Survey of actual conditions of reasons for nurse calls: comparing a surgical ward and a medical ward
Majima, Y.; Tamura, Y.; Maekawa, Y.; Ohira, M.; Ikegawa, M.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 146: 419-423
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0926-9630 PMID: 19592878 Document Number: 631419
We believe that nurse calls can play a role not merely as a means to convey patients' needs, but also as a medium to analyze and predict patients' needs using historical data of nurse calls. Therefore, we conducted a survey of actual conditions of nurse calls using "call history management system" developed for welfare institutions. The survey was intended to show patients' needs accurately by individually associating historical data, which can be collected through an information system, with reasons for calling, which usually cannot be collected automatically. Total quantities of nurse calls were 5,397 (174.1 per day, 4.59 per day per person) in the Surgery Ward and 3,404 (109.8 per day, 2.85 per day per person) in the Internal Medicine Ward; the incoming calls to the Surgical Ward were more numerous than those to the Medical Ward. The most common reason for calling was "assistance related to toileting". During the day shift and evening shift, that reason was followed by "fluid management" such as finishing of fluid administration and fluid exchange.