Critical care nurse work environments 2013: a status report

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Critical care nurse work environments significantly influence patient outcomes, nurse job satisfaction, and retention.
• The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has conducted periodic surveys since 2006 to assess work environment health.
• This study presents findings from the 2013 AACN Critical Care Nurse Work Environment Survey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current status of critical care nurse work environments.
• To identify trends in work environment health since previous surveys.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to members and constituents of the AACN.
• A total of 8,444 responses were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The overall health of critical care nurse work environments has declined compared to 2008.
• Nurses' perceptions of patient care quality have also decreased.
• While some factors showed improvement, the declines in others are a significant concern.

Conclusions:

• A strong correlation exists between healthy nurse work environments and positive patient outcomes.
• The 2013 survey highlights specific areas within critical care settings that require urgent attention and improvement.
• Relentless collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to foster healthier work environments.