The Impact of Heavy Perceived Nurse Workloads on Patient and Nurse Outcomes

Maura MacPhee, V. Susan Dahinten and Farinaz Havaei
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Maura MacPhee: School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, CanadaVancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
V. Susan Dahinten: School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, CanadaVancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
Farinaz Havaei: School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, CanadaVancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada

Administrative Sciences, 2017, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: nursing workload; patient adverse events; nurse outcomes; nursing tasks left undone; interruptions; nurse staffing; compromised professional nursing standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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