Measurement of task delegations among nurses by nominal group process analysis

Task delegations among different nursing skill levels (RNs, LPNs, NAs) are empirically measured in this study by performing a nursing activity analysis. Instead of relying on conventional techniques of time study and work sampling, this study incorporates Nominal Group Process and specially designed questionnaires for analyzing nursing activities. Approximately 100 nurses from a 193-bed short-term general hospital participated in the study. The resulting task delegation rates are compared with hospital policy, and a comparison is also made between different nursing units.