Why Do Nurses Carry Out Illegitimate Tasks? A Qualitative Study Through the Lens of Gender Theory and Nursing History

Abstract

Aim: To identify illegitimate tasks performed by registered nurses (RNs) in surgical care and explore why they perform them through the lens of gender theory and nursing history.

Design: A qualitative study guided by gender theory, nursing history and the Fundamentals of Care framework.

Methods: RNs (n = 48) at three surgical wards attended a lecture on gender theory and a lecture on nursing history, each followed by focus group interviews (n = 12) with 6-8 participants. The analysis included two steps: (A) a content analysis of the interviews to identify illegitimate tasks and (B) a gender analysis using Connell's framework and nursing history.

Results: The RNs describe their work situation in clinical practice as fragmented by illegitimate tasks. The results show how this can be explained as induced by gender theory and nursing history, with the main theme RNs support overall patient care and work climate at the cost of nursing care-a behaviour explained by gender theory and nursing history, presented in four categories: (1) performing administrative tasks and information processing outside the nursing profession, (2) maintaining a pleasant workplace, (3) being constantly available, facilitating and compensating for physicians and (4) backing up nursing assistants.

Conclusion: Contemporary RNs frequently utilise their resources to carry out a wide range of illegitimate tasks. The findings illustrate that RNs remain influenced by their history and still integrate traditionally female-associated tasks and behaviours into the workplace, often without conscious awareness. This knowledge can be used to understand why RNs perform illegitimate tasks without being asked to do so. Primarily, managers and also RNs must consider their complex situation from this perspective to implement systematic organisational changes that ensure patients receive the nursing care they need.

Impact: There is a global shortage of registered nurses (RNs). Patients suffer from missed nursing care. RNs describe their work as fragmented, with frequent interruptions and illegitimate tasks they feel expected to prioritise, even if not prompted by routines or requests. RNs are influenced by nursing history, integrating traditionally female-associated tasks and behaviours into the workplace, often subconsciously. When nurse managers and RNs become aware of these problems, it can pave the way for change, which can free up nursing resources and improve patient care. By becoming aware of what constitutes illegitimate tasks and understanding why nurses perform them, organisational changes can be made to fully utilise RNs' competencies. The findings point to a systemic issue that calls for strategic leadership from managers to drive substantive change.

Keywords: gender theory; illegitimate tasks; missed nursing care; nurse roles; nursing history; surgical nursing.