A data-driven approach to work redesign in nursing units

Our medical center leaders targeted a $30 million savings over 3 years. To achieve this goal a data driven work redesign approach was adopted and a series of time motion studies were performed. For each of 3 years, every hospital worker recorded and summarized their activity in blocks of time during 1 week. By 1995, nursing results were radically different from the previous 2 years. Bathing, turning patients, and gathering intake and output disappeared from the top 10 registered nurse (RN) activities, While professional judgement, patient education and data assessment entered the top 10. Initiatives involving skills mix and care delivery changes resulted in more focused and activity-appropriate use of RN time.