Development and application of a computerized workload measurement tool for nurse educators.

Abstract

This paper describes the development and application of a computerized workload measurement tool for use in hospital nursing education departments. The tool was developed in response to a need to gather information to facilitate resource allocation within the nursing education department in times of severe fiscal constraint. Software was developed based on a commercially available spreadsheet to keep track of the time and nature of nursing educator activity as well as its location. Analysis of the results showed that most of the nurse educators' time was spent on educational activities. The workload measurement system provided useful information for both individual educators and for the department in assessing, planning and allocating resources for educators.