Measuring nurse workload in neonatal intensive care units to enhance patient safety

Realtime Measurement of Situational Workload in NICU Nurses to Improve Workload Management and Patient Safety

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11041119

This study is looking at how busy nurses are in neonatal intensive care units to find ways to make their jobs easier and improve the care for newborns, so they can better handle the challenges they face every day.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11041119 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding and measuring the workload of nurses working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to improve patient safety and care quality. By developing a comprehensive measurement system that considers various factors affecting workload, the study aims to identify and address the challenges nurses face in these high-pressure environments. The approach involves collecting data across multiple levels, including unit, job, patient, and situational factors, to create a more accurate representation of nursing workload. This information will help in designing better workload management strategies and health information technologies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include critically ill neonates receiving care in NICUs, as they are directly affected by nursing workload.

Not a fit: Patients outside of the neonatal intensive care setting or those not requiring intensive nursing care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved patient safety and care quality in NICUs by optimizing nurse workload management.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been some research on nursing workload, this approach of multi-level measurement in NICUs is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.