Nursing daily routine activities: A considered response or coping mechanism?

Routine activities have important roles in the daily work-place. Routine provides a sense of coordination, organisation and stability and its very regularity demonstrates its important place in the everyday (Aldrich & Dickie, 2013; Zisberg et al., 2007). A routine can be a rule, such as the ideal routine, as well as a behaviour, where the routine is expressed as a pattern (Feldman & Pentland, 2003; Pentland & Feldman, 2005). Routine can be viewed both positively and negatively. Perceptions of routinisation may consider it rigid and hence stifling creativity (Aldrich & Dickie, 2013) and perpetuating monotony of repetition (Rytterstr€om et al., 2011). It can be viewed as an unconsidered, automated-like response, suppressing more considered approaches. Alternatively, routine can present a constructed approach to tasks, and provides a negotiation between the needs of the situation and our personal capabilities (Aldrich & Dickie, 2013).