Allowing the patients to sleep: Flexible medication times in an acute hospital

In 1999, under the leadership and direction of the Director of Clinical Services (Nursing), Roger Napthine, Project Consultant, was commissioned to undertake a review of medication policies and practices for a regional acute‐care hospital. This initiative was taken with the view of improving nursing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International journal of nursing practice Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 75 - 80
Main Authors:	RN, Heather Jarman, RN, Elly Jacobs, RN, Ruth Walter, RN, Cynthia Witney, RN, Valerie Zielinski
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01-04-2002 Blackwell Science Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:	acute Acute Disease administer Administration Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Australia Biological and medical sciences Drug Administration Schedule Drugs Female Flexibility Health participants hospital Hospitals Humans Male Medical sciences medication Middle Aged Nurses Nursing Patients Public health. Hygiene Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine Sleep time Time Factors Australia Oceania Human Evaluation Chemotherapy Sleep Health staff Professional practice Hospital environment Public health Nurse
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Summary:	In 1999, under the leadership and direction of the Director of Clinical Services (Nursing), Roger Napthine, Project Consultant, was commissioned to undertake a review of medication policies and practices for a regional acute‐care hospital. This initiative was taken with the view of improving nursing practice and patient care. Recommendations from Napthine’s review included the trial in a medical and a surgical unit of a change in the administration of routine morning and evening medication times. A descriptive study that included a convenience sample of 52 patients and 25 registered nurses was conducted in the two units. The findings demonstrated that patients were able to sleep longer. Further, although they tended to wake earlier, their ‘in hospital’ and ‘at home’ sleeping patterns were more closely aligned. There was agreement among the nurse participants that the change to flexible medication times allowed patients to sleep longer. However, concerns were raised about the impact of the change on other nursing duties, particularly those performed in the mornings.
Bibliography:	ArticleID:IJN346 ark:/67375/WNG-RRWH6205-6 istex:A54012C55C7000BC7FD4044FAE26FFB348E08AC9 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:	1322-7114 1440-172X
DOI:	10.1046/j.1440-172x.2002.00346.x