A review of activity recording systems in community health nursing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of activity data in the management of community health nursing services. The study begins by examining what community health nurses do. Particular attention is given to the management structure in community health nursing. The kinds of information that individuals at different levels in the organization of community health nursing require, are investigated. One of these kinds of information is activity data. Thus, the role that activity data can play for those at each organizational level is explored. Various factors that can influence the usefulness of activity data are examined. The conceptual and functional features of six provincial and one federal activity recording system are analyzed. This is followed by a more detailed study of a particular system, the Alberta Community Nursing Activities Recording System. In reviewing the systems analyzed, the study finds that a common model for activity recording systems cannot be derived. Objectives are found to be so vaguely defined that the evaluation of an activity recording system is forced to rely largely on the subjective feelings of the systems users. Having examined some perceived alternatives to current systems, it is felt that a thorough revision of presently operating systems should be undertaken.Medicine, Faculty ofPopulation and Public Health (SPPH), School ofGraduat