A new approach to the prevention of nursing care rationing: Cross-sectional study on positive orientation

To assess the effects of nurses' life satisfaction and life orientation on the level of nursing care rationing.

Best practice within human resource management argues that striving for a positive orientation within the workforce may create a friendly work environment that could promote the employee's development and job satisfaction in a health care organisation.

A total of 547 nurses were enrolled and assessed using three self-report scales: the Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care-R (BERCA-R), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Then, the data were submitted into bivariate analyses.

More pessimistic nurses with low and moderate levels of life satisfaction, and those with a neutral life orientation, presented with significantly higher BERCA-R scores than those who were more optimistic and who had high levels of life satisfaction.

Nursing care rationing depends on psychological factors of life satisfaction and life orientation. Low levels of satisfaction with life and a more pessimistic life orientation negatively contribute towards a higher prevalence of nursing care rationing.

Nursing management policies, including intervention management, should consider ensuring positive orientation is in place to increase job satisfaction and optimism in health care workers.