A method of calculating nursing workload based on individualised patient care

• Main Author: Grant, Nancy Kathleen
• Published: University of Edinburgh 1977
• Subjects: 615.5
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.651719

This thesis describes a method of calculating nursing workload based upon individualised patient care, a concept which is supported by the International Council of Nurses. An aid to this practice is the nursing care plan, the use and introduction of which into a group of Scottish hospitals is described. Nursing care plans provide a description of the care which nurses prescribe and can be used as a source from which to determine the nursing care elements of the workload. A formula was developed and is presented for the calculation of the nursing workload based on the amount of time required for Planned Activities and the average percentage of time spent in Planned Activities. This formula incorporates time for Unplanned Activities. The methods of determining the time and percentage of time in Planned Activities are described. The major method used was non-participant observation. The formula was originally tested by the researcher on one medical ward where subsequently the nursing staff participated in the recording and collection of workload data. The system was extended to two other medical wards where the nursing staff also participated in the operation of the system for a period of six months. The information produced by this system has a variety of management uses which are discussed.