[A project to ameliorate nurses working overtime in psychiatry ward]

The authors found nurses working in psychiatry wards were frequently required to work overtime, with average overtime measuring 85 minutes. After analysis, we found main factors leading to overtime to be late new patient admissions, tardy ward inspections by attending physicians, failure to implement workplace regulations, failure by nurses to implement proper shift transfer procedures, and meeting-related delays.

This paper proposes an approach by which average overtime for psychiatry ward nurses may be reduced from 85 to 30 minutes.

Based on findings, the researchers adjusted the schedule for ward visits by attending physicians, updated and streamlined workplace regulations, ensured administrative procedures were precisely followed, and updated and streamlined standing orders.

Average overtime was reduced from 85 to 25 minutes.

This research facilitated a reduction in the amount of overtime registered by nurses.