The Measurement of Nurses’ Mental Workload Using Nasa-TLX Method (A Case Study)

Abstract

Nurse is a profession that has a quite high workload. It can be seen from how often they should encounter situations which compel them to undergo precisely right decision in saving patients’ lives. Various environmental conditions increase the frustration rate of the nurses, such as noise of the crowds and medical equipment, as well as smell of medicines and wounds at once. Moreover, demands from the patients’ family make it even tougher for them. Therefore, this study aims to measure the mental workload of the nurses at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency unit (IGD) in the Hospital ZA based on their years of service. The study was conducted using the method of NASA-TLX (National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Task Load Index). It measured the workload in six dimensions: Mental Demand (MD), Physical Demand (PD), Temporal Demand (TD), Own Performance (P), Effort (EF), and Frustration Rate (FR). The results of the study show that the average value of the nurses’ workload at ICU and IGD is in the category very high (respectively 80 and 83) for the nurses with 0-3 years of service, and the most contributing factor for both the primary groups is the effort (EF).

The study of the relationship between mental workload of nurses and maintaining human dignity of patients

“…The results of this study showed that the mental workload of the studied nurses is generally high with an average of 71.05. In several studies, the mental workload of nurses has been evaluated as high (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35).…”

Nurse workload, missed nursing care, and the contributing factors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a limited resource setting: A case from Indonesia

“…Similar results are also present in a previous study regarding nurse workload in the Intensive Care Unit done in a hospital in Aceh, Indonesia. 27 Higher effort means higher requirement to work harder in order to achieve the necessary level of performance. 23 This finding could be related with the high demand in the NICU to monitor and provide appropriate treatment for intensive care neonates.…”

“…29 This finding is contradictory with previous evidence which showed that nurses with longer experience exhibit a lower frustration level in regard with their adaptation level with the workplace pressure and task. 27,30 Overload of patient information due to the usage of electronic health records (EHR) was also shown to potentiate a higher level of frustration among nurses. 31,32 Out of all the nurse care items done in the NICU, we found that the most frequently missed nursing care was giving emotional support to the patient's parents and/or family and bedside glucose monitoring as ordered.…”

Analyzing the Vibration Exposure to the Safety and Health at Workplace: A Case in the Urea Granulation Unit of the Fertilizer Factory

“…Therefore, Kroemer [22] suggests industries to consider body dimensions to allow safe limit for carrying out loads. Several methods for example, using the spinal shrinkage principles to determine maximum load weighting could be lifted by labors [23]; using biomechanics method to predict load handling capability [24]; using automatic systems such as a wireless and ambulatory posture monitoring system which monitors movements and detects changes of postures [25]; using NASA-TLX which combining the measurement of mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration rate [26]; also establishing safety physical working environment followed by reliable working procedure and working time to Table 5. Vibration Exposure Measurement on Labors Body Parts minimize psychology effect experienced by the workers while performing their tasks [27].…”