The impact of computer implementation on nursing work patterns: study design and preliminary results

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Evaluating nursing work patterns is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.
• The introduction of electronic data processing (EDP) in hospitals aims to improve efficiency and patient care.
• Understanding baseline nursing activities is essential before implementing new technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a baseline evaluation of nursing work patterns on two medical wards.
• To assess the initial attitudes and expectations of nursing staff regarding the introduction of electronic data processing.
• To establish a foundation for subsequent phases evaluating the impact of EDP on nursing work.

Main Methods:

• Work sampling was employed to quantify time allocation across different nursing activities.
• A survey was administered to nursing staff to gauge their prior computer experience and attitudes toward EDP.
• Data collection occurred prior to the integration of any electronic data processing functions.

Main Results:

• Nurses dedicated approximately 15% of their time to general care, 35% to special care, and 30% to administrative activities.
• A significant portion (20%) of nursing time was spent on non-nursing-related tasks.
• A notable proportion of nursing staff (one-third) had prior computer exposure and expressed enthusiasm for EDP, anticipating easier work and time savings.

Conclusions:

• Baseline nursing activities reveal substantial time allocated to administrative tasks, highlighting potential areas for efficiency gains through EDP.
• Nursing staff exhibited a positive and optimistic outlook towards the integration of computers and EDP, expecting improved workflow.
• While generally positive, staff expressed less optimism regarding the usability of bedside terminals or portable devices compared to broader EDP systems.