Aspects and Effects of Advanced Beginner Nurses’ Self-Monitoring While Multitasking

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the aspects and effects of self-monitoring required by advanced beginner nurses to perform multitasking. Thus, obtaining suggestions for nurses to enable them to multitask is possible.

Method: Participants comprised 14 second-year nurses, who were divided into three groups of four to five members by hospital. Focus group interviews were used to collect data on self-monitoring while multitasking. The interviews were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.

Results: Ninety codes, 25 subcategories, and five categories were extracted as aspects of self-monitoring while multitasking. These categories included “analyzing issues and situations,” “seeing oneself from multiple perspectives,” “narrowing down concrete measures according to the situation,” “planning with predictability,” and “being aware of the surrounding situation related to oneself.” Twenty-seven codes, 10 subcategories, and four categories, namely, “smooth execution of multitasking,” “active organization of work,” “reflection with a view toward development,” and “connecting practice and learning,” were extracted as effective in self-monitoring while multitasking.

Discussion: The study suggested that advanced beginner nurses used various types of self-monitoring to analyze themselves and the people around them from multiple perspectives and switched their attention according to the context while dealing with multiple tasks. To improve advanced beginner nurses’ ability to multitask, it is useful to promote self-understanding and enhance self-monitoring by providing opportunities for reflection with others while accumulating experience in multitasking.