title: Rounding, work intensification and new public management.
abstract: In this study, we argue that contemporary nursing care has been overtaken by new public management strategies aimed at curtailing budgets in the public hospital sector in Australia. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 15 nurses from one public acute hospital with supporting documentary evidence, we demonstrate what happens to nursing work when management imposes rounding as a risk reduction strategy. In the case study outlined rounding was introduced across all wards in response to missed care, which in turn arose as a result of work intensification produced by efficiency, productivity, effectiveness and accountability demands. Rounding is a commercially sponsored practice consistent with new public management. Our study illustrates the impact that new public management strategies such as rounding have on how nurses work, both in terms of work intensity and in who controls their labour.
authors: School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Eileen
authors: E
authors: Willis
authors: School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Toffoli
authors: School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Henderson
authors: School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Couzner
authors: College of Nursing, Texas Women's University, Denton, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Hamilton
authors: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Verrall
authors: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Blackman
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D056164:Teaching Rounds / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: accountability; effectiveness; efficiency; new public management; nursing care; productivity; risk; rounding; work intensification