Table 2 Task categories and definitions
Task category | Definitions |
|---|---|
Direct care | Tasks directly involving the patient, e.g. direct communication with the patient, nursing procedures, bathing etc. |
Indirect care | Tasks indirectly related to the patient, e.g. communication with family, rounds, communication about the patient with other staff, planning care without the patient present etc. |
Medication tasks | All tasks related to medication, e.g. preparation, documentation, administration etc. |
Documentation | Documentation excluding medication documentation |
Professional communication | Communication with other staff members, e.g. patient handover to a different unit, shift handovers etc. |
Social | Breaks, meals, personal activities. |
Ward related tasks | Ward related tasks not associated with the care of an individual patient e.g. cleaning, staffing, stock resupplying etc. |
Training/supervision | Student supervision and training during working hours. |
Telephony | All phone calls except personal. |
In transit | Non-registered time consisting of time between patients and tasks such as movement from a patient room to the nurse’s office or time spent waiting. |
Other | Tasks that did not fit within the above categories. |