A Time Study of Direct Nursing Care Given to Selected Premature Infants of Varying Weights

Beams, Shirley L.

Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

A Time Study of Direct Nursing Care Given to Selected Premature Infants of Varying Weights Public Deposited

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Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/n009w252j

Abstract

The problem of this study was to determine whether the direct nursing care of premature infants of different weights varied as to the number of nursing activities performed and the amount of time utilized for these activities in relation to the weight of the infant. An analysis of the direct care revealed approximately 32 per cent of the total time spent in general body care and over $0 per cent spent in feeding. Mean times determined for the separate categories revealed no apparent relationship between time spent and weight of infant. Each category seemed to be influenced by the uncontrolled variables of age and condition of infants. When used alone, the weights of infants appeared not to be a good index for determining direct nursing care needs. As the weights of infants increased, there was no general pattern of increase or decrease in the mean number of nursing activities performed, the mean times for total direct care and individual categories of care, or the percentage of total time utilized in each category. The weight groups which had high mean times for total direct care also had high mean times for the category of feeding. Recommendations were made that when determining direct nursing care needs, the age, condition, and weight of infants be considered jointly and that further studies be done controlling all three factors. A farther recommendation suggested that feeding needs of prematures be studied to determine whether they would be a suitable index for determining direct nursing care needs.

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