Understanding Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses Working Together
Author Information
Author(s): Carroll Rachael E., De Vries Kay, Goodman Claire, Brown Jayne
Primary Institution: University of Nottingham
Hypothesis
How do Health Care Assistants negotiate their roles and responsibilities with Registered Nurses in acute hospitals?
Conclusion
The close working relationship between Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses can lead to task-driven impacts on care delivery.
Supporting Evidence
- 148 hours of observations and 108 interviews were conducted.
- Health Care Assistants worked both independently and interdependently with Registered Nurses.
- Dyads relied on task demarcation established by ward culture.
Takeaway
Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses work closely together, but sometimes they don't communicate well, which can make it hard to take care of patients.
Methodology
The study used focused ethnography, including non-participant observation and interviews with staff from four acute wards.
Limitations
The study did not include the patient voice, limiting insights into patient experiences and outcomes.
Participant Demographics
22 Health Care Assistants and 33 Registered Nurses from four acute wards in a UK hospital.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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