Abstract
This research was undertaken to try and find out whether nursing procedures were carried out in a different way on the wards from that taught in the School of Nursing (this is an assumption that is commonly made by many nurses), and whether such differences, if they occurred were significant both quantitatively and qualitatively. The aim was to discover therefore not merely how many deviations occurred, but also whether such deviations presented a potential hazard to the patient. The main theoretical background is that of an understanding of the acquisition of motor skills. Such theories appear to be much more relevant to the situation than other theories of learning. Two tools were devised and used for the main study: a check list , and a questionnaire. This questionnaire was adapted from the Interview Schedules developed by Mrs. R. Pomeranz (Research Officer, St. George's Hospital). The check lists provided the main instrument of data collection and ensured a detailed record of the performance of each nurse. The data was obtained through observation, both of the teaching and of the practice of the chosen procedures. The number of nurses who were observed was limited, firstly because there was only one observer, and secondly because of rules operating within each ward, which determined which nurses carried out these procedures. Analysis of the data produced significant results for each hospital. In two hospitals the differences were significant between grades of nurses, and in one hospital, between the wards. However, since the results for each hospital were peculiar to it alone, no wide ranging conclusions Can be drawn from the statistical results, although it is possible to draw conclusions about the usefulness of the tools and the method.