Integrating human caring science into a professional nursing practice model.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• High work intensity among hospital nurses negatively impacts job satisfaction and retention.
• Creating a supportive and human-centered care environment is crucial for acute care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reduce work intensity for hospital nurses.
• To foster a human caring environment in acute care settings.
• To evaluate the impact of interventions on nurse and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A 4-year, two-phase interventional study was conducted across eight hospital units (four medical, four surgical).
• Key caring interventions were implemented in professional nursing practice.
• Outcomes measured included patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, nurse turnover, and registered nurse vacancy rates.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in nurses' perception of the overall healthcare environment.
• Enhanced relationships with coworkers and improved workload perception were reported by nurses.
• Qualitative data indicated increased job fulfillment due to more time for patient care.

Conclusions:

• Interventions aimed at reducing nurse workload and improving the care environment can positively impact nurse perceptions and job satisfaction.
• These findings suggest that investing in nurse well-being is essential for a thriving acute care setting.
• The study highlights the importance of dedicated time for patient care in enhancing nurses' sense of fulfillment.