The purpose of this study was to compare the work efficiency and proficiency, nurse satisfaction, care quality, and cost effectiveness before and after implementing the skill-mix nursing care model by using the investigation method with convenience samples. Researchers selected nurses from 24 medical-surgical wards with RN-to UAP (unlicensed assistive personnel) skill-mix ratio percentages of 85%, 90% and 100%. There were 433 nurses and 36 UAPs that participated in the study and filled out the questionnaires. The results showed that: (1) UAP were most frequently doing environment management while least frequently ficilitating range of motion for patients, (2) The UAP most proficient at preparing ice water bags, and least proficient at ficilitating physical exercise, (3) UAP were most satisfied by helping with patients' daily care, (4) Nurse satisfaction was significantly different before and after implementing the skill-mix model (p<.05), and (5) The infection rate and patient fall rate were significantly different before and after implementing the skill-mix nursing care model (p<.05).
The purpose of this study was to compare the work efficiency and proficiency, nurse satisfaction, care quality, and cost effectiveness before and after implementing the skill-mix nursing care model by using the investigation method with convenience samples. Researchers selected nurses from 24 medical-surgical wards with RN-to UAP (unlicensed assistive personnel) skill-mix ratio percentages of 85%, 90% and 100%. There were 433 nurses and 36 UAPs that participated in the study and filled out the questionnaires. The results showed that: (1) UAP were most frequently doing environment management while least frequently ficilitating range of motion for patients, (2) The UAP most proficient at preparing ice water bags, and least proficient at ficilitating physical exercise, (3) UAP were most satisfied by helping with patients' daily care, (4) Nurse satisfaction was significantly different before and after implementing the skill-mix model (p<.05), and (5) The infection rate and patient fall rate were significantly different before and after implementing the skill-mix nursing care model (p<.05).