Workload measurement for resource nurses in the critical care unit: a pilot study

Off J Can Assoc Crit Care Nurs. 1998 Summer;9(2):16-8.

Abstract

Faced with financial and staffing pressures, the resource nurses in a large pediatric critical care unit asked, "How do we spend our time at work?" When a literature review showed no evidence of an applicable type of survey, a workload measurement tool was developed and the workload measured over a six-week period. Large amounts of time were shown to be spent on tasks or jobs that could be delegated to someone who was not a nurse. This study provided documentation to support the hiring of a staffing secretary and a pharmacy technician. An increased need to be available to offer educational and professional growth and developmental support to colleagues was also identified.

MeSH terms

  • Data Collection
  • Documentation
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units, Pediatric*
  • Job Description*
  • Nursing Administration Research / methods*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / organization & administration*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Time and Motion Studies
  • Workforce
  • Workload*