20 Introducing pop-up schwartz rounds – a quality improvement project to improve our reach

<h3>Introduction</h3> Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where staff can discuss the emotional and social aspects of their work and hear their colleagues’ stories and experiences. Evidence shows attendees feel less stressed and isolated, with increased insight and appreciation for each other’s roles. Our hospice introduced virtual organisation-wide Schwartz Rounds in 2021. They are well attended and positively evaluated but some staff groups e.g. inpatient unit (IPU) nurses, have struggled to attend. In 2024, we commenced a quality improvement project with the aim of improving our reach. <h3>Methods</h3> We reviewed attendance data since 2021 to establish how many IPU nurses attended. We surveyed all teams to understand the barriers to attending. We decided to target different staff groups in phases, starting with our IPU nurses. We liaised with the Point of Care Foundation (POCF) regarding Pop-Up Rounds. These can be implemented where access to usual Rounds is challenging. They are shorter and take place where the staff are based. We scheduled a series of Pop-Up Rounds linked to staff training days throughout July/August 2024. We scheduled three rounds face-to-face in a meeting room on IPU. Each round dealt with the same theme ‘When the drugs don’t work’ however panel members/attendees were different each time. Staff attending the training days were automatically offered a place and others working on IPU were invited to attend without needing to book. <h3>Results</h3> In 2021 no IPU nurses attended rounds. In 2022 there were 2 attendees. In 2023 there was one. Our 2024 pop-up rounds resulted in 17 IPU nurse attendees. 39 staff attended the Pop-Up Rounds in total. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Pop-Up Schwartz Rounds are an effective way of enabling IPU nurses to experience Schwartz. Linking to existing training days worked well. We plan to try a similar model with our retail staff next.