Nurse-Assessed Optimality of Workload - A Valid Measure for the Adequacy of Nursing Resources?

Aim: To examine whether a valid measure for the adequacy of nursing resources can be based on nurse-assessed optimality of the workload on nursing intensity and staffing systems. Background: In health care, nurse leaders need valid information regarding the adequacy of nursing resources. Earlier res...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Online journal of nursing informatics 2019-10, Vol.23 (3)
Main Author: Junttila, J K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical outcomes
Health care
Health informatics
Hospitals
Medical errors
Mortality
Nurses
Nursing care
Patient safety
Validity
Workforce planning
Workloads
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Summary:Aim: To examine whether a valid measure for the adequacy of nursing resources can be based on nurse-assessed optimality of the workload on nursing intensity and staffing systems. Background: In health care, nurse leaders need valid information regarding the adequacy of nursing resources. Earlier research suggested that nursing resources predict patient outcomes. Method: In a cross-sectional retrospective observational study consisting of 34 inpatient units from two acute care hospitals in 2012 and 2013 (n = 732 monthly reports), we investigated whether the optimality level of the workload determined by the Nursing Intensity and Staffing System RAFAELA® predicted the number of safety incidents. Results: A clear increasing trend in the number of safety reports with an increasing nursing workload level was found only in units where the patient-to-nurse ratio was low and patient dependency was high. Conclusions: In this study, additional validity of the RAFAELA® system was partially confirmed using patient safety incident data. However, underreporting of patient safety incidents may have influenced the results. Implications for Nursing Management: Engaging nurses in analysing daily variations in the adequacy of nursing resources enables nurse leaders to recognize unit-specific vulnerabilities, to identify ways to prevent work overload, and to safeguard quality care in times of inevitable high workload.
ISSN:1089-9758
1089-9758