Affiliations: CREAPT/CEE, Le Descartes I, Noisy-le-Grand Cedex,
France | CNRS – LISE / CREAPT, Paris, Francce | IRSST, Montréal, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jeanne Thebault, CREAPT/CEE
(France), Le Descartes I-29, promenade Michel Simon, 93166 Noisy-le-Grand
Cedex, France. Tel.: +33 145 92 69 75; E-mail: jeanne.thebault@cee-recherche.fr
Abstract: Objectives: This article presents the results of a study currently
underway looking at the transmission of vocational skills between health care
workers in a French hospital. The aim was to show that health care workers, in
addition to their work with patients, also have to incorporate the transmission
of vocational skills into their daily activities. Methods: Thirteen transmission situations were observed and analyzed by means of an
activity-focused ergonomic work analysis, with the aim of reporting on this
"invisible work". Participants: The population studied was composed of
nurses and the nursing assistants from three different units in one hospital. Results: The results show that the work required to integrate and
supervise new staff members is left to the discretion of health care workers.
This means they are constantly required to arbitrate on both an individual and
collective basis between providing health care for patients and supporting new
members of staff. The content of the transmission goes beyond the prescribed
tasks and technical knowledge, as staff members also pass on their professional
strategies (individual and collective), rules of practice and ethical
considerations. Supervising students also offers experienced workers the
opportunity to share their professional practices. Conclusions: This study highlights the issues arising from this transmission activity for the
experienced workers, new workers, patients and the hospital.
Keywords: Ergonomics, work, age, seniority, health care sector
