Table 2.

Task frequency and categories of nursing work

Category of nursing work	Task	Tasks/h
Communication	Chart	1.7
	Talk to the patient	1.0
	Check/sign orders	0.9
	Talk with relatives	0.9
	Communicate with a physician	0.8
	Relay information to another nurse	0.8
	Communicate with another nurse to Organize workflow	0.6
	Ask another nurse for advice	0.5
	Communicate with respiratory therapist	0.4
	Participate in rounds	0.3
	Communicate with unit clerk	0.2
	Socialize with another nurse	0.2
	Call pharmacy	0.2
	Record nursing note	0.1
	Total	8.6
Medication management	Check medication order/sign order	1.6
	Administer medication	1.6
	Assess currently administered intravenous Medication	1.5
	Acquire medication	0.8
	Check medication compatibility	0.2
	Record nursing note	0.1
	Total	5.7
Patient awareness	Patient assessment	1.1
	Nurses rounding (at a glance assessments)	1.1
	Assess reason for alarm	1.0
	Measure urine output	0.6
	Record nursing note	0.7
	Assess wounds	0.2
	Draw arterial blood sample	0.2
	Assess patient's mental orientation	0.2
	Assess restraints	0.1
	Perform spontaneous breathing trial	0.03
	Assess endotracheal tube position	0.03
	Total	5.3
Organization tasks	Set up equipment (intravenous pump, ventilator…)	1.4
	Check equipment	0.5
	Await pending task, for example, Admission	0.2
	Total	2.0
Direct patient care	Support patient in activities of daily life (eg, eating, drinking, toileting…)	1.2
	Suction patient's airways	0.4
	Bath	0.1
	Perform oral care	0.1
	Administer tube feeding	0.1
	Pull catheter	0.03
	Extubate	0.03
	Total	1.9