Definition
The percent of nurses’ time spent in direct care of a patient or patients. This is calculated by dividing the total time by the direct care time. Most any activity performed in the room of the patient (e.g., documentation, checking vital signs, administering medication, etc.) constitutes direct care time.
The amount of time a nurse spends in direct patient care can be calculated manually using the
Paper Time Study Worksheet, or electronically using a Personal Digital Assistant.
See the How-to Guide for a more comprehensive itemization of direct care activities and for more information on the time tracking and calculation tools mentioned above.
Goal
Nurses spend 70 percent of the time in direct patient care.
Data Collection Plan
Collect monthly on unit. Random sample with a minimum of 25 patients.
Sample Graph
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