Banda Zione, Simbota Mirriam, Mula Chimwemwe
University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing, Blantyre, Malawi.
BMC Nurs. 2022 Jun 1;21(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00918-x.
The Malawi health system has taken numerous actions to reduce high nurse workloads, despite this, shortage of nurses especially in critical care settings still persists due to lack of prioritisation of critical care. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of high nursing workload in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of nurses regarding the effects of high nursing workload on patient care in ICU at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a general ICU at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. A purposive sample of 12 nurses working in the ICU was selected. Participants included full-time nurses working in the ICU. A total of 10 In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data upon which data saturation was reached. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. Data was analysed manually using thematic analysis method by Braun & Clarke.
Study findings indicated that high nursing workload compromises the delivery of quality nursing care to critically ill patients, compromises patient safety and has negative impact on nurses' wellbeing.
The study findings portray that nurses are aware of the negative effects that high nursing workload has on patient care. The study findings support the need for more ICU nurses in order to reduce nurse workloads and the need for nurse managers and policy makers to develop strategies to manage nurse workloads and its effects on patient care.
马拉维卫生系统已采取多项行动来减轻护士的高工作量，尽管如此，由于对重症护理缺乏优先安排，护士短缺问题仍然存在，尤其是在重症监护环境中。因此，了解重症监护病房（ICU）中高护理工作量的影响非常重要。本研究旨在探讨护士对伊丽莎白女王中央医院ICU中高护理工作量对患者护理影响的看法。
这项定性描述性研究在马拉维布兰太尔伊丽莎白女王中央医院的一个普通ICU中进行。选取了12名在ICU工作的护士作为有目的的样本。参与者包括在ICU工作的全职护士。总共进行了10次深入访谈以收集数据，直至达到数据饱和。使用半结构化访谈指南进行数据收集。数据由布劳恩和克拉克采用主题分析法进行人工分析。
研究结果表明，高护理工作量会影响为重症患者提供优质护理，危及患者安全，并对护士的健康产生负面影响。
研究结果表明护士意识到高护理工作量对患者护理的负面影响。研究结果支持需要更多的ICU护士以减轻护士工作量，以及护士管理者和政策制定者需要制定策略来管理护士工作量及其对患者护理的影响。
