Nursing staff time allocation in long-term care: a work sampling study.
The effective use of nursing staff time is a major determinant of the quality of care in long-term care facilities. The purpose of this work sampling study was to identify those activities that consumed the largest amount of staff time on a locked unit housing: 60 chronically ill and demented patients. A heavy work load, large proportion of direct care, and minimal nonproductive time were found. Work redesign strategies to improve staff efficiency and implications for further research are discussed.
Cardona
P
P
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA.
Tappen
R M
RM
Terrill
M
M
Acosta
M
M
Eusebe
M I
MI
D000374:Aggression; D001494:Baths / Q000451:nursing; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003704:Dementia; D005431:Florida; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000458:organization & administration; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014728:Veterans; D000078329:Workforce