Table 1.

Nurse reported average times to complete selected nursing interventions and NIC published ranges^a

	Unit Specific Mean (SD)	Range	Published NIC range
Interventions taking less time on study unit than times published in NIC
Scheduled interventionsb
0740 Bed rest care	11.96 (6.42)	3–30	16–30
4030 Blood products administration	31.08 (16.99)	5–60	>60
0140 Body mechanics promotion	15.08 (6.81)	5–30	16–30
7370 Discharge planning	31.70 (22.27)	4–60	46–60
4210 Invasive hemodynamic monitoring	22.71 (19.70)	5–120	46–60
6540 Infection control	14.42 (8.52)	1.5–30	31–45
2620 Neurologic monitoring	11.00 (7.89)	1–30	16–30
2690 Seizure precautions	14.62 (8.05)	2–30	16–30
2690 Surgical preparation	29.35 (17.19)	7.5–75	46–60
3660 Wound care	22.65 (15.54)	4–60	31–45
Unscheduled interventionsc
4020 Bleeding reduction	17.47 (15.83)	1.5–60	46–60
0450 Constipation management	15.90 (11.70)	5–45	16–30
7910 Consultation	24.96 (19.43)	4–62	46–60
5240 Counseling/family supportd	22.04 (13.08)	5–45	46–60
6460 Dementia/chronic confusional state     managementd	35.50 (32.43)	1.5–120	>60
4110 Embolus precautions	13.47 (7.73)	2–30	16–30
6486/6490 Environmental management: safety and/or     fall prevention	16.74 (11.86)	1–45	31–45
7680 Examination assistance	14.85 (10.87)	2–45	16–30
1450/1570 Nausea and/or vomiting management	14.25 (9.14)	2–45	16–30
1400 Pain management	13.39 (10.64)	2–45	>60
3590 Skin assessment/surveillanced	11.89 (6.97)	2–30	16–30
5606 Teaching: Individual	21.91 (15.33)	4–60	31–45
Interventions taking more time on study unit that times published by NIC
Scheduled interventions
7310 Direct admission care	38.31 (18.28)	5–75	16–30
2080 Fluid/electrolyte management	19.66 (15.42)	1.5–60	≤15
0910/0940 immobilization/splinting	15.67 (14.38)	2.5–60	≤15
2300 Medication administration	27.11 (27.98)	2–120	≤15
0960 Transport	27.97 (20.40)	4–75	≤15
Unscheduled interventions
6200 Emergency care	40.52 (31.75)	2–120	16–30
7960 Healthcare information exchange	22.34 (16.46)	3–60	≤15
1806 Self-care assistance: transferring	18.98 (10.75)	3.5–45	≤15
0580 Urinary catheterization	17.61 (7.48)	3.5–30	≤15

Abbreviation: NIC, Nursing Interventions Classification.

^aAll values are in minutes. The 11 interventions missing were not included in this table because nurse-reported average completion times fell within the NIC range.

^bScheduled interventions are those that could be anticipated in a given shift.

^cUnscheduled interventions are unpredictable that may or may not occur during a shift.

^dInterventions were combined to reflect how these interventions are expressed in nursing practice and during communication.