Nursing Care Tasks Research Articles

Linking patient safety, caring behaviours and professional self-efficacy with missed nursing care among Filipino emergency room nurses: A structural equation model study.

To investigate the interrelationships of patient safety, caring behaviours, professional self-efficacy and missed nursing care among emergency room nurses. Cross-sectional, correlational study. Filipino emergency room nurses (n = 345) participated via convenience sampling from September 2023 to January 2024. Four validated self-report scales were used to collect data and were analysed using Spearman rho, covariance-based structural equation modelling, mediation and path analyses. The emerging model of study variables displayed satisfactory fit indices. Patient safety directly influenced caring behaviours and professional self-efficacy, while negatively influencing missed nursing care. Caring behaviours directly and indirectly affected professional self-efficacy and missed nursing care, respectively. Professional self-efficacy negatively influences missed nursing care. Finally, caring behaviours and professional self-efficacy were significant mediators between the association of patient safety and missed nursing care. Caring behaviours and professional self-efficacy of emergency room nurses demonstrated mediating effects that can potentially improve patient safety practices thereby minimizing unfinished or missed nursing care. Nurses and healthcare organizations should commit to consistently maintain a workplace culture that fosters patient safety, caring behaviours and professional self-efficacy to minimize avoidable injuries and omitting nursing care tasks. STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). No Patient or Public Contribution.

The frequency and reasons for missed nursing care in Australian perioperative nurses: A national survey.

To describe Australian perioperative nurses' reported frequency and reasons for missed nursing care in the operating room. Cross-sectional online survey conducted in March-April 2022. A census of Australian perioperative nurses who were members of a national professional body were invited to complete a survey that focussed on their reported frequency of missed nursing care and the reasons for missed nursing care in the operating room using the MISSCare Survey OR. In all, 612 perioperative nurses completed the survey. The perioperative and intraoperative nursing care tasks reported as most frequently missed included time-intensive tasks and communication with multiple surgical team members present. The most frequently reported reasons for missed care were staffing-related (e.g. staff number, skill mix, fatigue and complacency) and affected teamwork. There were no significant differences in the frequency of missed care based on perioperative nurse roles. However, there were statistically significant differences between nurse management, circulating/instrument nurses and recovery room nurses in reasons for missed care. Much of the missed care that occurs in the operating room is related to communication practices and processes, which has implications for patient safety. Understanding the types of nursing care tasks being missed and the reasons for this missed care in the operating room may offer nurse managers deeper insights into potential strategies to address this situation. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement. No patient or public contribution.

The relationship between mental workload and nurse stress levels in hospitals

High mental workload implies significant mental resources and can lead to increased cognitive stress and fatigue. Nurses have the responsibility of managing a wide range of nursing care tasks, which frequently involve addressing anxiety, handling patient complaints, and managing patient defense mechanisms, all of which can lead to increased stress levels. This study aimed to identify the relationship between mental workload and the stress level of nurses in the Hospital Malang City. The research utilized a cross-sectional study design. The sampling technique employed was Total Sampling, involving 96 inpatient nurses at the hospital. Data collection involved the use of two questionnaires: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Data analysis in this study was conducted using Pearson Correlation. The results indicated a positive relationship between mental workload and nurses' stress levels, supported by a significant p-value of 0.002 and a correlation coefficient of 0.312. A high mental workload can impact the level of job-related stress experienced by nurses. Effective stress management skills can help individuals mitigate this impact.

A Global Overview of Missed Nursing Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed unparalleled pressure on many countries' healthcare systems, impacting the delivery of health and nursing care services. Despite the growing number of missed care studies during the pandemic, a broader perspective is essential when designing theory-driven strategies to improve nursing care delivery. This review aimed to synthesize evidence of missed nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic in acute care settings through a systematic review and narrative synthesis. An electronic search of articles published since the emergence of the pandemic was conducted using 5 databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO). A total of 470 articles were identified during the initial search, and 10 articles were included in the review. The sample sizes of the studies ranged from 37 to 536 nurses. Results of the content analysis were grouped into 5 categories: (1) prevalence of missed care, (2) frequency of missed care, (3) reasons for missed care, (4) nurses' and organizational variables contributing to missed care, and (5) work environment elements contributing to missed care. The review's findings revealed a shift in the nature of missed nursing care during the pandemic, with an emphasis on nursing care tasks vital for the recovery of patients with COVID-19. Despite the unique circumstances brought about by the pandemic, an inadequate nursing workforce continued to be identified as the primary reason for missed care, consistent with the pre-pandemic period.

Feedback on the Preceptor's Experience Post-training: “A Quasi-experimental Design”

Background: The conventional clinical practice component of undergraduate nursing education is insufficient preparation for contemporary professional nursing practice. The preceptorship program became a substitute for limited clinical training in nursing school. Few studies have been conducted to demonstrate its practice impact above that of conventional clinical training. Therefore, the preparation of nurse preceptors is vital to any of the preceptorship roles. The preceptor plays a significant role during the transition period from being a student to a competent nurse. He/she provides direct supervision, support, and guidance, and offers a role model to consolidate scientific knowledge, practice clinical skills, and develop professional attitudes and values. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess differences between the preceptors' knowledge pre- and post-training program, evaluate preceptor’s feedback regarding the training program, assess the effect of the training program on preceptor’s performance three months post-training, and evaluate student’s satisfaction with the preceptor’s performance three months post-training. Method: A quasi-experimental design was adopted in this study. Overall, there were 79 (n=34 Saudi and non-Saudi nurse demonstrators and lecturers who have working experience of at least six months and n=45 nurse students) study participants. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between pre-test and post-test values of nurse demonstrators and lecturers' awareness of preceptorship. Conclusion: Participants perceived the preceptorship program positively as they learned to assume different roles as a preceptor, an educator, a facilitator, a role model, and an evaluator. The preceptorship program focuses on essential skills pertinent to clinical and educational settings. It develops clinical preceptors' roles and helps them support, develop and integrate new graduate nurses' clinical competence using an individualized and systematic approach. The ultimate aim is to ensure patient safety, i.e., the preceptee masters the clinical skills needed for competence before moving into more advanced nursing care tasks.

Magnitude of missed nursing care and associated factors in case of North Shewa Zone public Hospitals, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia

BackgroundMissed nursing care (MNC) is a global problem that could endanger patient safety in all nations and cultures and have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes. ObjectiveTo assess the magnitude, reason and associated factors of missed nursing care in case of North Shewa Zone public Hospitals, 2021. MethodsInstitution based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 315 nurses working in selected Hospitals from April 1–20/2021. Data was collected through self- administered MISSCARE survey tools. Model fitness was checked by Hosmer and Lemshow goodness of fit. Variables that have p < 0.05 with 95 % CI in the multi variable logistic regression model were considered as statically significant. Descriptive statistics were done and presented with tables and graphs. ResultThe prevalence of missed nursing care in study area was 33 %. Labor resource (85.4 %) and material resource (84.55 %) were main reasons. Nurses who were diploma holder (AOR = 4.5; 95 % CI: 2.29,8.84), work experience 6 m-2yrs (AOR = 1.5; 95 % CI: 1.1,2.2), worked with day and night shift (AOR = 4.1; 95 % CI: 1.9,8.5), worked over time>400hrs in the past 3 months (AOR = 3.8; 95 % CI: 1.4, 9.9) and dissatisfaction in nursing profession(AOR = 2.2; 95 % CI: 1.1, 4.5) were associated with missed nursing care. ConclusionIn the research area, the incidence of MNC was relatively low; however crucial nursing care tasks like initial evaluation and physical examination were neglected.

Association of changes in nursing work environment, non-professional tasks, and nursing care left undone with nurse job outcomes and quality of care: A panel study

BackgroundStrengthening quality of care without compromising nurse job outcomes by building a safer health care system is a common concern worldwide including in China. Most of the current evidence comes from cross-sectional studies conducted in western countries, which limits inferences of causality and generalization. ObjectiveThe objectives of this longitudinal study were to compare changes in quality of care, nurse job outcomes, nursing work environment, non-professional tasks, and nursing care left undone in acute hospitals in China between 2014 and 2018. Secondly, we wanted to determine the association of changes in nursing work environment, non-professional tasks, and nursing care left undone with nurse job outcomes and quality of care. Design, settings, and participantsA prospective two-stage panel study conducted in 108 adult medical and surgical units from 23 hospitals in Guangdong province, China in 2014 and repeated in 2018. MethodsWork environment was measured by the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. Non-professional tasks were measured with a seven-item scale surveying the performance of and time spent on non-professional tasks. Nursing care left undone was measured by 12 items addressing necessary nursing activities. Nurse job outcomes included burnout, dissatisfaction, and retention. Quality of care was measured by four items indicating overall quality of care as assessed by nurses (three items) and patients (one item). Generalized estimating equations with linear regression were employed to analyze data. ResultsIn 2018, compared with 2014, the nursing work environment had improved, and non-professional workloads had decreased minimally. The average number of the 12 nursing care tasks left undone had increased to 6.5 from 5.6 in 2014. Fewer nurses reported job dissatisfaction or intention to leave. Quality of care was improved slightly as assessed by nurses and patients. As for the changes of hospital organizational factors on quality of care, a better nursing work environment was related to better nurse job outcomes and quality of care. More non-professional tasks were related to higher levels of nurse job burnout. Less nursing care left undone was associated with better nurse-assessed quality of care. Units with more nurses experiencing job burnout and dissatisfaction were likely to have poorer nurse-assessed quality of care. ConclusionsImproving nursing work environment and supporting nurses to engage in professional and direct patient care as opposed to non-professional work may be beneficial to nurse job outcomes and promote quality of care.

Work Schedule Characteristics, Missed Nursing Care, and Organizational Commitment Among Hospital Nurses in Korea

This study describes Korean nurses' work schedule characteristics and identifies their components to investigate associations of work schedule components with missed nursing care and organizational commitment. This cross-sectional secondary analysis used survey data of 1,057 nurses in 111 units at six hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected between April 2017 and March 2018. A self-administered survey, including seven work schedule characteristic items, the Korean version of the MISSCARE Survey, and the Korean version of the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, was employed. To construct independent components of work schedule characteristics, a principal component analysis was performed. The associations of work schedule components with missed nursing care and organizational commitment were analyzed using multiple linear regression models with generalized estimating equation methods. The average number of daily work hours was 9.7. Nearly half of the study population worked while sick once or more per month. The two components of nurses' work schedule characteristics were "long work hours" and "lack of rest," and these components showed variations between units. Unhealthy work schedule components were linked to frequently missed nursing care and decreased organizational commitment. This study showed that proper work hours and adequate rest are important to reduce missed nursing care tasks and enhance organizational commitment, both of which are critical for better patient care and organizational outcomes. Healthcare organizations should provide adequate nursing staff and assign reasonable workloads. Furthermore, hospitals should periodically monitor the work schedule characteristics of nurses and actively intervene in cases of scheduling issues to resolve them.

Application of digital technologies in nursing practice: Results of a mixed methods study on nurses’ experiences, needs and perspectives

IntroductionEven though the importance of nurses’ participation in the process of technology development is frequently stressed by stakeholders, participation has been described as negligible and limited by nurses’ abilities to identify and communicate their needs and ideas for application scenarios or the improvement of digital nursing technologies (DNT) in everyday care practice. Prior research often uses hypothetical scenarios or laboratory settings with little real-world relevance, and the number of studies investigating needs for technology development, application scenarios or requested technologies from the perspective of nurses with experience in technology use is exceedingly small. Against this background, this study aims to investigate needs, application scenarios and perspectives of nurses with practical experience in real-world DNT application in a range of different care settings. MethodsAn explanatory sequential mixed methods design including an online survey (QUANT) and focus group (FG) discussions (qual) was used to explore nurses’ perspectives and experiences. A convenience sample of participants was accessed via 19,000 e-mail contacts of directors of nursing (DONs) in care facilities and hospitals throughout Germany. Preliminary results of the online survey were discussed and elaborated in depth in three FGs. Quantitative results of the online survey were included in the development of the interview guideline for and data collection from the FGs. Descriptive, setting-specific analysis was conducted for quantitative data, and qualitative data was analysed by identifying key aspects. ResultsA total of 1,335 participants took part in the online survey, most of whom worked in ambulatory care institutions and held management positions such as DON or team leader. There were 14 FG participants. Ninety-five per cent of the participants of the online survey reported having experience in the use of DNT, predominantly with information and communication technologies (ICT). Overall, DNT were deemed to make work easier, and participants concurred on other positive effects such as increased efficiency or saved time and improved quality of care. Negative effects or concerns were reported less frequently. Reasons for non-adoption included technology-related (e.g. usability, functionality) and non-technology-related (e.g. competencies and context factors) issues, and facilitators for adoption were discussed in the FGs. Key aspects of application scenarios were enhanced technological support of direct nursing care tasks to reduce physical burden and mental stressors. Specifically, participants of the FGs expressed their wish for participative development and a general openness for nurses to be included in the development and testing of digital technologies. Discussion and conclusionAlthough efforts in development, research and theory-building have been increasing over recent years, DNT that go beyond more traditional or common applications within the ICT category (such as electronic nursing records or process planning) are rare. There are already technologies available for many of the expressed needs for which, however, adoption fails or does not happen. The reported barriers and facilitators indicate issues that should be taken into account when developing DNT for application in nursing practice. The study reveals a distinct need for information, counselling, facilitation and organizational development, and brings to light broad opportunities for the collaborative development of guided DNT implementation and evaluation processes. Future development and research activities should preferably be conducted by interdisciplinary research groups.

Volunteers in palliative care: A healthcare system-wide cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveVolunteers are an important resource in bridging palliative care (PC) services and communities. However, no studies have systematically mapped volunteers’ actual contributions to PC provision and how well they are...

Nursing teamwork in general ward settings: A mixed-methods exploratory study among enrolled and registered nurses.

To examine the perceived level of nursing teamwork and factors influencing teamwork among enrolled nurses (ENs) and registered nurses (RNs) in general ward settings. The nursing care delivery model includes RNs, ENs and others who work as a team to deliver patient care. The potential impact of teamwork on nursing care highlights the need to explore the work of nursing teams. A mixed-methods exploratory study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently from ENs and RNs in 2018. Two hundred and forty-eight (n=248) nurses completed the Nursing Teamwork Survey. Sixteen nurses participated in focus group discussions. Qualitative data were reported following COREQ guidelines, while quantitative data followed the STROBE guidelines. Both ENs and RNs scored highest for the shared mental model subscale but lowest for the team orientation subscale. Factors including qualification level, years of working experience, perceived job staffing adequacy and job satisfaction were found to influence teamwork. Three themes emerged from the qualitative findings: expectations of each other's role, delegation practices and interpersonal relationships. ENs and RNs differed in their expectations of their role in basic patient care activities and faced power struggles related to delegation practices. Open and structured communication was deemed essential in building interpersonal relationships. The ENs and RNs have clear understanding of their personal roles and responsibilities towards achieving a common goal. However, teamwork may be improved with a shared mental model in performing basic nursing care tasks, mutual support for workload management, better delegation practices, effective communication, enhanced interpersonal relationships and better team orientation. Nurse managers and educators need to work collaboratively to foster positive delegation practices in clinical practice supported by applicable team training that enhances mutual trust, backup behaviours and collective orientation in nursing teams.

Relationship between Workload Performance and Job Satisfaction

In Pakistan’s public health care delivery system, charge nurses hold a very challenging position to perform their workload. They have to work very hard to accomplish nursing and non-nursing care tasks which are imposed on them by the system. Overstretching of workload deprives them from concentration which is badly needed for their performance and this creates dissatisfaction which negatively impact on the quality of nursing care. As a result, this study intends to analyses the relationship between workload performance (WLP) and job satisfaction (JS). This correlation study involved 105 charge nurses in Nishtar Medical College and Hospital Multan Pakistan recruited by convenience sampling. Nurses’ WLP were collected by using self-developed instrument, and JS were collected by using modified Spector 1985. The collected data were analyze descriptively (mean, SD, frequencies, percentage) and inferentially (Pearson’s correlation). The results suggested that nurses’ WLP (average time consumption) in the morning (93.83%) and evening shift (95.63%) were higher compared with night shift (70.69%). Additionally, the proportion of time consumed in the morning and evening shift were higher on nursing care activities (Morning = 57.10%, Evening =52.1%) rather than non-nursing care activities. Oppositely, in the night shifts nurses consumed more than half of their time in non-nursing care activities (55. 66%). Charge nurses observed on moderate level of job satisfaction (mean = 38.6, SD = 5.42). There was no statistically significant correlation between nurses’ job satisfaction and workload performance (p =.137). The findings conclude nurses’ high workload and moderate level of job satisfaction and no statistically significant correlation between both. The results suggested that, it is important for hospital management to adopt some better strategies in order to improve WLP and JS.

The personality profile of the accountable nurse and missed nursing care.

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of nurses' personal accountability in the relationships between nurse's personality and missed nursing care. Personal accountability is considered as a core value in nursing, shaped by the nurse's personality, education, socialization into the profession and experience. Personality antecedents may be uniquely suited to predicting accountability, since it reflects variation in individuals' deep-seated values and beliefs. Personal accountability can be related to the prevalent phenomenon of missed nursing care (tasks that are omitted or delayed). A multicentre cross-sectional study with 290 nurses from direct-care nursing wards during 2017. Personality traits were assessed with the 44-item Big Five Inventory. Personal accountability was assessed with a 19-item scale. Missed nursing care was assessed with the 22-item MISSCARE survey. An indirect mediated path analysis was performed and compared with an alternative model with direct effects. Path-analyses findings supported a full-mediation model of accountability in the relationships between personality traits and missed nursing care. Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness and Neuroticism, but not Extraversion, were significantly related to personal accountability. In addition, greater personal accountability was significantly related to lower frequency of missed nursing care. Personal traits are important antecedents of personal accountability, which relates to missed nursing care. Findings delineate the profile of the accountable nurse and might help in developing strategies for the selection of nurses with high personal accountability and determining the best means to strengthen accountable behaviours in the workplace.

Understanding the complexity of working under time pressure in oncology nursing: A grounded theory study

BackgroundThe international nursing shortage has implications for the quality and safety of patient care. Various studies report that nurses do not have time to complete all necessary nursing care tasks, potentially resulting in nurse-perceived time pressure. Providing good care in the current nursing environment often poses a real ethical challenge for nurses. How nurses experience caring for cancer patients under time pressure and how they deal with the limited time available in achieving an ethical nursing practice remains unclear. ObjectivesTo report qualitative research grounded in oncology nurses’ experiences with time pressure, its perceived impact on nursing care and the ways in which they deal with it. DesignA qualitative study design with a grounded theory approach was conducted to explore and explain oncology nurses’ experiences with time pressure and its underlying dynamics. Setting and participantsPurposive and theoretical sampling led to the inclusion of 14 nurses with diverse characteristics from five inpatient oncology nursing wards in one academic hospital. MethodsIndividual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted over a six-month period in 2015 and 2016. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. The interview data was analysed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven and NVivo software. ResultsThe conceptualised phenomenon of time pressure, grounded in empirical data, illuminated its complexity and helped us to explicate and describe what nurses felt when working under time pressure. The interviewed nurses described time pressure as a shared yet nuanced reality. We uncovered that nurses dealt with time pressure in varied ways, with a broad range of proactive and ‘ad hoc’ strategies. According to our interviewees, time pressure was a significant barrier in providing good nursing care. They illustrated how time pressure particularly affected the interactional aspects of care, which most nurses considered as essential in an oncology setting. Underlying personal, cultural and context-related factors seemed to play a key role in nurses’ individual experiences with time pressure. ConclusionTime pressure is a widely recognised and experienced phenomenon among nurses which has substantial negative implications for the quality and safety of patient care. Our findings reinforce the need to establish better support for nurses and to reduce the circumstances in which nurses are ethically challenged to provide good care due to time pressure. Based on our findings, we recommend investing more in the nursing culture and nurses’ personal development, in addition to optimising nurse staffing levels.

Role confusion as a barrier to effective carer involvement for people with intellectual disabilities in acute hospitals: findings from a mixed-method study.

To understand issues around carer roles that affect carer involvement for people with intellectual disabilities in acute hospitals. There is evidence that a lack of effective carer involvement can lead to poorer health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities, but there is a lack of insight into the reasons for poor carer involvement in acute hospitals. Mixed methods in six acute hospital trusts in England (2011-2013). Electronic hospital staff survey (n=990), carer questionnaires (n=88), semi-structured interviews with hospital staff (n=68) and carers (n=37). Data were triangulated and analysed using a conceptual framework. There was strong support for carer involvement among hospital staff, and most carers indicated that they felt welcomed and supported. However, an investigation of negative experiences showed that there were discrepancies in the perspectives of hospital staff and carers on the scope of 'carer involvement'. An important contributory factor to the effectiveness of carer involvement was the degree to which staff understood the importance of carer expertise (rather than simply carer work) and welcomed it. Carers' contributions to basic nursing care tasks could be taken for granted by hospital staff, sometimes erroneously. The roles and contributions of carers should be clarified on an individual basis by hospital staff. The authors propose a new model to support this clarification. Further research is needed to assess the suitability of the model for patients with intellectual disabilities and other vulnerable patient groups.

Medical surgical nurses describe missed nursing care tasks—Evaluating our work environment

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to explore the nurse work environment by evaluating the self-report of missed nursing care and the reasons for the missed care. MethodsA convenience sample of medical surgical nurses from four hospitals was invited to complete the survey for this descriptive study. The sample included 168 nurses. The MISSCARE survey assessed the frequency and reason of 24 routine nursing care elements. ResultsThe most frequently reported missed care was ambulation as ordered, medications given within a 30 minute window, and mouth care. Moderate or significant reasons reported for the missed care were: unexpected rise in volume/acuity, heavy admissions/discharges, inadequate assistants, inadequate staff, meds not available when needed, and urgent situations. ConclusionIdentifying missed nursing care and reasons for missed care provides an opportunity for exploring strategies to reduce interruptions, develop unit cohesiveness, improve the nurse work environment, and ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

Transitioning the Virtual Nursing Care for School Children With Diabetes Study to a Sustainable Model of Nursing Care

From December 1, 2010, through May 31, 2013, the South Dakota Board of Nursing conducted a pilot study, "Virtual Nursing Care for Children with Diabetes in the School Setting." The findings from the study supported the use of the virtual nurse model of care as a safe and effective method of supervising and delegating diabetes nursing care tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), including insulin administration.This article provides an update describing the 2014 changes made to the nursing delegation rules, the protocol established for registered nurses using the virtual nurse model of care, and the training program for UAP providing diabetes nursing care. From December 1, 2010, through May 31, 2013, the South Dakota Board of Nursing conducted a pilot study, "Virtual Nursing Care for Children with Diabetes in the School Setting." The findings from the study supported the use of the virtual nurse model of care as a safe and effective method of supervising and delegating diabetes nursing care tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), including insulin administration.This article provides an update describing the 2014 changes made to the nursing delegation rules, the protocol established for registered nurses using the virtual nurse model of care, and the training program for UAP providing diabetes nursing care.

Impact of a modified nursing handover model for improving nursing care and documentation in the emergency department: A pre- and post-implementation study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether implementation of a new nursing handover model led to improved completion of nursing care activities and documentation. A pre- and post-implementation study, using a survey and document audit, was conducted in a hospital ED in Melbourne. A convenience sample of nurses completed the survey at baseline (n = 67) and post-intervention (n = 59), and the audit was completed at both time points. Results showed significant improvements in several processes: handover in front of the patient (P < 0.001), patients contributed and/or listened to handover discussions (P < 0.001), and provision of adequate information about all patients in the department (P < 0.001). Nurses also reported a reduction in omission of vital signs (P = 0.022) during handover. Three hundred sixty-eight medical records were audited in the two study periods: 173 (pre-intervention) and 195 (post-intervention). Statistically significant improvements in the completion of two nursing care tasks and three documentation items were identified. The findings suggest that implementation of a new handover model improved completion of nursing care activities and documentation, and transfer of important information to nurses on oncoming shifts.

Prevalence, patterns and predictors of nursing care left undone in European hospitals: results from the multicountry cross-sectional RN4CAST study

BackgroundLittle is known of the extent to which nursing-care tasks are left undone as an international phenomenon.AimThe aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and patterns of nursing...

Bedside Handover Enhances Completion of Nursing Care and Documentation

Bedside handover has been proposed as a patient-focused nursing practice model with the potential to reduce adverse events and improve standards of care. This pre-/postintervention study examined changes in completion of nursing care tasks and documentation after the implementation of bedside handover. Analysis of 754 cases revealed significant improvements in several nursing care tasks and documentation, whereas there was no variation in handover duration. Implementing bedside handover may enhance nursing care for hospitalized patients.