The impact of heavy perceived nurse workloads on patient and nurse outcomes

Artikel

This study investigated the relationships between seven workload factors and patient and nurse outcomes. (1) Background: Health systems researchers are beginning to address nurses' workload demands at different unit, job and task levels; and the types of administrative interventions needed for specific workload demands. (2) Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study of 472 acute care nurses from British Columbia, Canada. The workload factors included nurse reports of unit-level RN staffing levels and patient acuity and patient dependency; job-level nurse perceptions of heavy workloads, nursing tasks left undone and compromised standards; and task-level interruptions to work flow. Patient outcomes were nurse-reported frequencies of medication errors, patient falls and urinary tract infections; and nurse outcomes were emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. (3) Results: Job-level perceptions of heavy workloads and task-level interruptions had significant direct effects on patient and nurse outcomes. Tasks left undone mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse and patient outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse and patient outcomes. Compromised professional nursing standards mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Administrators should work collaboratively with nurses to identify work environment strategies that ameliorate workload demands at different levels.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Administrative Sciences ; ISSN: 2076-3387 ; Volume: 7 ; Year: 2017 ; Issue: 1 ; Pages: 1-17 ; Basel: MDPI

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Öffentliche Verwaltung
• Subject: compromised professional nursing standards ; interruptions ; nurse outcomes ; nurse staffing ; nursing tasks left undone ; nursing workload ; patient adverse events

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): MacPhee, Maura ; Dahinten, V. Susan ; Havaei, Farinaz
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): MDPI
• (where): Basel
• (when): 2017

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.3390/admsci7010007
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/239785
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET