Workload Experienced by General Ward Nurses and Its Impact to Patient Safety
TL;DR
This qualitative study explored and understood the lived experiences of general ward nurses on workload that will impact patient safety while ensuring quality of care and provided empirical insights for healthcare institutions and policymakers in developing strategies to improve workload management, continuity of care, and patient safety.
Abstract
Nursing workload and its effects on the quality of nursing care are major concerns for nurses. This qualitative study explored and understood the lived experiences of general ward nurses on workload that will impact patient safety while ensuring quality of care. The study utilized the qualitative descriptive phenomenological design. Guided by Collaizi Method to capture nurses' lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured (in-depth) interviews with nine general ward nurses from diverse hospital settings. The thematic analysis revealed four themes: physical and psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social. The analysis revealed that general ward nurses experience workload challenges primarily due to staffing shortages and resource limitations. These conditions significantly affect patient safety and quality of care by increasing the risk of errors, delays, and missed care. However, nurses employ adaptive coping strategies such as teamwork, prioritization, and emotional support to manage their responsibilities. Finally, participants strongly advocate for systemic and organizational reforms, particularly improved staffing ratios and stronger support systems, to ensure both nurse well-being and patient safety, and provide empirical insights for healthcare institutions and policymakers in developing strategies to improve workload management, continuity of care, and patient safety.