Self rated performance and perceived workload among the public health nurses of Kerala

The study on workload of public health nurses conducted during 2011-12 with the questions on three aspects of workload namely, role overload, role stagnation, self role distance (RODS). The study was conducted in five districts of Kerala using a self administered questionnaire during 2011-12. For data collection 1238 public health nurses were contacted. Of 1238 only 1225 have responded the question on self rated performance. Majority of them scored well in self rated performance, while many of them have scored less in all three aspects of workload namely RODS. This suggests even the public health nurses feel they have performed satisfactorily, but still they feel the over load in terms of role overload, role stagnation and self role distance. This is further justified by the findings on perceived consequences of poor performance. Many have expressed poor performance will not affect their career. This is because even a better performed worker does not get any reward in terms of promotion or poor performed does not get transferred or punished. These findings suggest that government has to take necessary action to reduce the workload and introduce more incentives for better performance.