Abstract:
The purpose of this cross-sectional exploratory research was to analyze the portion of nursing time spent on nursing activities by staff nurses (RNs and PNs) in the Orthopedics Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital. The research population consisted of 27 RNs and 17 PNs. Data were collected by work sampling technique by observation for 14 days (30 August to 12 September 2004). Statistical analysis was done using mean and standard deviation. Results revealed that RNs spent more time than PNs and had less time for resting. RNs spent the most time working in the evening shift 83.11% (6 hours and 39 minutes). Indirect care was 55.68% (4 hours and 27 minutes) and direct care, 24.39% (1 hour and 55 minutes). Regarding the day shift, RNs spent less time on nursing activities than the evening shift, 2 %; indirect care was 50% (4 hours), and direct care, 21.11% (1 hour and 4 minutes) and spent less time working in the night shift, 50.62% (4 hours and 3 minutes). PNs spent the most time working in the day shift, 66.44% (5 hours and 19 minutes); direct care was 27.82% (2 hours and 22 minutes), time spent in the evening shift was 59.87% (4 hours and 47 minutes) and spent less time working in the night shift, 35.15% (2 hours and 49 minutes). These findings suggest that nurse administrators should revise their job description according to job specification and divide tasks in equal proportion for each shift in consideration of feasibility and suitability. Moreover, they should indicate the exact break time, continually evaluate the quality of patient care during the process of nurses role and work revision and evaluate by using work sampling technique a year after.