Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing (대한간호학회지)

Korean Society of Nursing Science (한국간호과학회)
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Analysis of the Adequacy of Nurse Staffing Level through the Estimation of Nursing Activity Hours and Implementation of Focus Group Interviews in a Tertiary Hospital: Using a Mixed-Method Design

일 상급종합병원 병동간호사의 업무량 측정 및 간호사 배치수준의 적절성 연구: 혼합연구 설계 적용

  • Kim, Hyun-Joo (Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Nursing Department, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Sun-Hee (Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Nursing Department, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Jai-Jung (Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Nursing Department, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Seong, Sun-Suk (Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Nursing Department, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Yang, Hee (Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Nursing Department, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Hyang-Yuol (College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 김현주 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 간호부) ;
  • 이선희 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 간호부) ;
  • 이재정 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 간호부) ;
  • 성선숙 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 간호부) ;
  • 양희 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 간호부) ;
  • 이향열 (가톨릭대학교 간호대학)
  • Received : 2022.11.16
  • Accepted : 2023.06.27
  • Published : 2024.05.31
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Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the adequacy of current nurse staffing levels by identifying nursing activities and workload. Methods: The study used a mixed-method design. A nursing activity survey was conducted using the work sampling method over 2 working days with 119 general ward nurses. A focus group interview was conducted with 12 nurses. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and content analysis, respectively. Results: The most amount of time was spent on medication (in direct nursing) and electronic medical record documentation (in indirect nursing). The appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:7.7 for the day shift, 1:9.0 for the evening shift, and 1:11.9 for the night shift. However, the current nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:9.4, 1:11.0, and 1:13.8 for the day, evening, and night shifts, respectively. Therefore, the current nurse staffing level is insufficient for the workload. In the focus group interview, the main reasons cited for being unable to complete tasks within working hours were communication and coordination, and the nursing electronic medical record. The essential nursing activities of basic nursing and emotional support were overlooked owing to a heavy workload. Therefore, an adequate nurse staffing level should be higher than the measured quantitative workload. Conclusion: These results suggest the general wards of tertiary hospitals should evaluate the adequacy of their current nurse staffing and allocate sufficient nurses to improve patient safety and nursing care quality.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by Research Fund of Seoul St.Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea (No. ZC21OISI0903).

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