title: Technological and environmental characteristics of intensive care units. Implications for job redesign.
abstract: Nurse executives are experiencing severe pressures to create systems of care delivery that provide services in more cost-conscious ways. Before care systems can be restructured, a systematic assessment of the work and the environment of the nursing unit must take place. This study found significant differences among nine intensive care units regarding both the nature of their work and their environments. These differences provided information that can be used in staffing decisions, nurse/physician interaction, and staff nurse and managerial recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Administration and Information Systems, School of Nursing, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hagenmueller
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce