Using a task analysis to describe nursing work in acute care patient environments.
To improve the healthcare environment where nurses work and patients receive care, it is necessary to understand the elements that define the healthcare environment. Primary elements include (a) the occupants of the room and what knowledge, skills, and abilities they bring to the situation; (b) what tasks the occupants will be doing in the room; and (c) the characteristics of the built environment. To better understand these components, a task analysis from human factor research was conducted to study nurses as they cared for hospitalized patients. Multiple methods, including a review of nursing textbooks, observations, and interviews, were used to describe nurses' capabilities, nursing activities, and the environmental problems with current patient room models. Findings from this initial study are being used to inform the design and evaluation of an inpatient room prototype and to generate future research in improving clinical environments to support nursing productivity.
Battisto
Dina
D
Architecture and Health Program, School of Architecture, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA. dbattis@clemson.edu
Pak
Richard
R
Vander Wood
Melissa A
MA
Pilcher
June J
JJ
D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014941:Work Simplification; D016526:Workload