CROSS-TRAINING NURSES IN KARACHI’S TERTIARY-CARE HOSPITALS: IMPACT ON PATIENT BOARDING TIMES

Abstract

The current study seeks to examine how cross-training of nurses affects the boarding times of patients in Karachi tertiary-care hospitals in Pakistan. With the support of cross-training, the research examines the current possibility to increase the operational efficiency and minimize delays in treating patients by diversifying the roles of the nurses. An assessment of the effect of cross training on boarding times of patients used a quasi-experimental pre post design.  The most critical research question addressed is; does, or does not, cross training of the nurses at the tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi result in reduction in the boarding times of patients? The data was obtained in two tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi after a six months’ time frame. The study used a sample of 100 nurses, 50 of whom are part of the experimental group (the cross-trained nurses) and 50 nurses in the control group. The amount of patient boarding time was measured, as well as the performance of professional tasks by nurses and the level of patient satisfaction. Regression analysis was also used to measure the effect of cross-training on boarding times that gave consideration to the size and workload intensity of the hospital. The practice of cross-training led to a 15 percent reduction in the times when patients board (p<0.05). Moreover, the efficiency of nurses in performing their duties rose by 12%, and the number of patient satisfaction marks rose to 10%. The strategy of cross-training of nurses alleviated the boarding time of patients and enhanced operational efficiency within the hospitals of Karachi. The study proposes cross-training as one of the viable methods in any hospital to enhance operations and patient outcomes. Data was taken in two hospitals, and 100 nurses took part in the study in six months. The cross-training method decreased the number of patient wait times in the boarding system by 15 percent and the patient satisfaction level went up markedly by 10 percent. The type of cross-training can make hospitals very efficient and eliminate the delay of patients. The study provides information about the impacts of cross-training in the Karachi healthcare system, the field that has never been researched before in the literature.