Relation between Nurses' Workload and Patients' Safety in Surgical and Neurological Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Patient safety is one of the most important indicators of quality in healthcare; sustainable nursing workloads improve the quality of healthcare institutions. Patient safety is about applying evidence based practices, to achieve positive health outcomes, and avoiding unsafe acts so as to reduce mortality and morbidity. For the nurses, patient safety is a fundamental part of their job. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between nurses' workload and patients' safety in surgical and neurological ICUs. Study design: a descriptive corelational design was utilized to fulfill the aim of the study. Sample: the sample consisted of the total number of all admitted patients in a period of three months; 112 patients at surgical ICU and 111 patients at neurological ICU; and total number of nurses was 68at surgical ICU and 23 at neurological ICU. Tools: self administered questionnaire; nursing activities workload score assessment scale; patient safety guidelines observational checklist; and patient's safety outcomes assessment sheet. Results: the percentage of patients' safety level was (75% and 51%) at surgical and neurological ICUs respectively. Moreover, the mean of nurses' workload was (62.40±11.20) in the surgical ICU compared to (54.17±12.29) in the neurological ICU with highly statistically significant difference. Conclusion: there was a statistically significant negative correlation between nurses' workload and patients' safety and outcomes. Recommendations: applying of nursing activities workload assessment score in intensive care units to retain nurses staffing, enhancing the patient safety level, and avoiding waste of nurses’ time and consequently