Nurse Workspace
An early focus of our analysis is to look at the workspaces of nurses. Practice nurses often seem to work in shared spaces and in a public way. The common setting is that the nurse is “stationed” in the treatment room, a room that has multiple functions and is used by multiple people. In part this stems from the early model where the nurses’ role was almost exclusively to assist the doctor. Having occupied this space, nurses are now adapting it to expanded roles.
While spaces allotted to nurses suggest that they are placed in public rather than enclosed places (e.g. thoroughfares and treatment rooms), their micro-workspace (e.g. the desk and shelving) indicate highly specific, non-public activities, with a cluttering of medical equipment, papers and computer. Reception desks, for example, are not piled high with this kind of work-related business. Receptionists' work occurs in public, while the ways in which nurses working spaces are constructed suggest that nurses occupy an intermediate space, not quite public (receptionist space), not quite private (doctors' space). They occupy a transitional space that seems to be an expression of their role in the practice. We value your comments on this.
posted by AGPNSadmin @ 2:39 pm
8 comments
8 Comments:
This is a really interesting area to look at. My experience though is that out of the practices I’m familiar with,only two reflect what is written here. In the others, nurse spaces are akin to GP consulting rooms (about half the size though) and considered to be the 'nurses rooms' (although they are officially called treatment or procedure rooms). I don’t think I’ve seen any desks cluttered with medical equipment, papers and computers. I’ve seen some small and well organized desks – far better organized than the desks in other places I've worked.
Practice Nurses seem to all be doing similar work but in differing setups,from the traditional model of desk in a walkway to a consulting room set up. There are lots of factors that shape different work areas, for example:
· building restrictions – and expanding stuff in a static workspace
· the “we’ve always done it this way” model
· the purpose built version as nurses roles expand in a practice
Lots of nurses seem happy with their work space - it would be interesting to hear them speak about their central environment.
As a practice nurse I think the space allocated to the nurse is a reflection of their acceptance of the team approach to primary health care. I have worked 4 years plus at my present location and have always had a room allocated from which to practice and operate. I had input into how the desk and drawers were to be built when I needed to move to a new room. As well I have been able to set the room up as I desired. I am the first nurse employed by this practice and was employed to work with the doctors as a part of their team and have certainly been accepted in that role. This practice embraces a holistic approach to health care and values my input especially in regard to preventative health care. I feel very fortunate to be working in such a beautiful environment, I look
out the window on trees, shrubs...fantastic...
I think the workspace alloted to nurses is indicative of their perceived role in the practice. If it is clogged with others' filing etc it shows they are not seen as having an individual contribution to clinical care and education.
The extent to which "nurses space" is respected is dictated by their willingness to advocate for a level of privacy for nursing activities commensurate with that offerred in the traditional consulting rooms.
Nurses need to claim their space in order to expand their role effectively.
thank yo for these comments - they really help us in with the project.
Although I have my own consulting room, from the GP's point of view it is okay to knock and enter without waiting for a response. I am still trying to change the culture that makes this so!
Although many general practices offer nurses designated space, many practices have had to accomodate them into the existing space. That is, when many of these practices were built nurses weren't routinely employed in general practice. The space many of them occupy isn't there own space as such, it is what is available in a busy practice.
Hi guys, visit http://nursereview.org/, very useful source for nurses.
And also anyone who wants to link exchange, just email me: filipinonurse@gmail.com
This is another example of how nurses don't get the treatment they deserve. The importance of the job nurses do is so often overlooked.
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