Patterning of time is a frequently ignored aspect of human behavior. Individuals handle time durations differently. Responses to time durations were first outlined in the classic work of Hall (in 1959) and include urgency, activity, variety, and whether multiple or isolated tasks are attempted in the same time duration. When patients or other staff vary from the nurse in the way in which time or time perception is handled, difficulty can occur. Understanding the way individuals handle time can assist in dealing with patients and colleagues and is of particular significance in interacting with people from other cultures and races.
