Adapting to team nursing
Managers described the change to team nursing as being in uenced by skill mix, inadequate supervision of less experienced staff by senior staff, the altered role of the enrolled nurse and attrition of experienced staff. However skill mix was identi ed as the main factor for changing to team nursing as nursing staff were less experienced and less skilled, requiring an increased level of direct supervision. A typical comment was:
“... rst year graduates, trainee enrolled nurses, enrolled nurses (EN), undergraduates ... need to team nurse with that group of skill mix ... they have to be led and guided by a registered nurse...”
From the managers’ descriptions team nursing was commenced with minimal preparation on a trial and error basis, for example:
“... took it to a ward meeting for discussion ...we started with three weeks ... it was a bit of trial and error...”