Prospective memory in the nursing environment: Effects of type of prospective task and prospective load

Abstract

The nursing environment is replete with event-based and time-based prospective memory (PM) tasks (i.e. high prospective load). However, the effects of time-based prospective load, prospective load in naturalistic settings, and prospective load with unique retrospective components for each PM task remains unknown. To address this gap, the current study used a mockup patient room setting to examine the effects of PM type (event-based or time based) and prospective load (1 vs. 4 tasks) with unique prospective and retrospective components) on ongoing task and PM task performance. Registered nurses completed an ongoing documentation task while also remembering to perform 1 or 4 PM nursing tasks at a certain time (time-based) or certain patient name (event-based).Results indicated that having an event-based intention decreased performance on the prospective component of the PM task and slowed performance on the ongoing task.Having a time-based intention in the one load condition positively affected timeliness of performing the PM task and number of records completed. Performance on the retrospective components of the PM task was equal across groups, but post retrospective recall of tasks was worse in the high prospective load conditions. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Effects of Reminder Type and Anticipatory Interval on Prospective Memory

“…The tasks for this study have been adapted from a prior PM study that used data entry in the context of a medical environment (Fink, Pak & Battisto, 2009). The primary task is to quickly and accurately input names, addresses, and phone numbers contained on paper forms into computer-based forms.…”

Association between prospective, retrospective memories and job performance of nurses in the city of Ahvaz, Iran, in 2016

“…A nurse 's work environment places heavy demands on both time-based and event-based PM. Examples of such PM tasks include remembering to communicate with other staff, giving medications at specific times, checking for new orders, attending meetings, bringing patients' requests, continuous monitoring of changing information, and resuming tasks [3,4]. Madadzadeh et al [5] reported that the workload is one of the most significant factors in nursing retention; measuring nursing workload reliability is the critical initial step to understanding the association between workload, nursing retention, and the safety and health of the patients [6].…”