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A systematic review of time studies to assess the impact of patient transfers on nurse workload
Author(s) -
Blay Nicole,
Duffield Christine M,
Gallagher Robyn,
Roche Michael
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1111/ijn.12290
Subject(s) - workload , observational study , duration (music) , observational methods in psychology , medicine , nursing , work (physics) , process (computing) , medline , computer science , art , mechanical engineering , literature , pathology , law , political science , engineering , operating system
Patients in hospital are increasingly being moved between clinical units and between bedspaces; however, the impact of patient transfers and bedspace moves on nurses' workload is not known. Time studies are an established observational research method that can be used to determine the duration of time taken to perform an activity or process. This review systematically searched four databases for literature published between 2000 and 2013 for observational time study techniques and patient transfers as a nurse activity. Eleven publications from three countries were included in the review. All studies used timing techniques to explore nurse work associated with the transfer process. The review highlights the duration of time spent by nurses on certain aspects of the transfer process. However, as few studies published results from timings, the impact on nurse time is likely to be higher than indicated. Further research is recommended.