The reality of neonatal nursing work in Kenya and implications for quality and safety: Direct observation of tasks and time utilisation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about how nurses working in care settings affected by remarkably high workloads and workforce constraints manage their work and time to deliver needed care.

Objective

This study aimed to characterise nursing workflows and examine time allocated to care in high mortality, intermediate care Kenyan neonatal units.

Design and methods

Using 'shadowing' as a time and motion technique, we directly observed 1-2 nurses per 12-hour shift in 8 Kenyan county hospitals. We used an Activity Log Sheet to document their activities during the shift and thematic content analysis of observation notes to classify and group tasks performed. In a second phase, we documented the time spent on specific critical tasks and instances of multi-tasking and care interrup

SUBMITTER: Onyango O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12590195 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature