A study to categorise the organisation of nursing care in acute wards in a London teaching hospital and to assess the impact of ward organisation on patient participation.

Abstract

Against the background of the popularity of Primary Nursing and consumerism in health, this descriptive study endeavours to explore the possible influence of ward organisation of nursing care on patient participation. In order to categorise a sample of 23 wards in a London Teaching Hospital along a continuum ranging from absence to advanced primary nursing, this study employed an established ward sisters' questionnaire (Mead 1991). In an attempt to identify the possible impact of ward organisation of care on patient participation, a sample of 20 patients were interviewed by the use of a semi-structured interview. Eventually, the various themes which emerged, characterise patients' experiences of participation in care during their hospital stay. While considering the complexity of primary nursing, the researcher tentatively suggests that the implementation of the features of primary nursing (Mead 1991), in the ward organisation of care might offer a better nursing environment to facilitate patient participation in care. In addition to the ward organisation of care, it was revealed that several other variables, such as age, dependency levels, education and social environment of patients seem to influence patient participation.