The scope of nursing practice in a psychiatric unit: a time and motion study.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nThe evaluation of nursing care practices poses many challenges, including identifying all the aspects of the care given. However, few studies have examined the scope of nursing practice in psychiatry.\n\n\nAIM\nThe aim of this study was to describe the intensity of nursing activities on a psychiatric unit based on the adaptation of Déry and D Amour s (2017) Scope of Nursing Practice Model.\n\n\nMETHOD\nThis 56-day descriptive observational study used the time and motion method to follow eight nurses.\n\n\nRESULTS\n500 hours of observations were carried out. The greatest lengths of time were allocated to communication and coordination of care activities and to non-healthcare domains. Less time was devoted to activities related to clinical evaluation and therapeutic education.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nFindings demonstrated that MHNs do not perform all the possible functions in the domains of their scope of practice in the same way, and time spent with patients was short. Several factors contributed to this, including the fact that nurses are working in increasingly demanding care settings that keep them under constant pressure.\n\n\nRELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE\nIt is essential to describe concretely what is expected of nurses, to help them allocate their time effectively and to identify opportunities for improvement.