From task assignment to patient allocation: a change evaluation

The way in which nursing work in a ward is planned and allocated amongst the staff available has a considerable influence on the continuity of patient care, nurse‐patient relationships, nurses' satisfaction with their role and the learning experiences of students. An attempt was made to explore these factors when it was decided to change the organization of a medical ward from task assignment to patient allocation. The change‐over was accomplished successfully using a form of action research and the evaluation indicated general satisfaction with the new system.