[Unfinished Nursing Care and their consequences as perceived by nurses: a descriptive qualitative study]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Unfinished nursing care is a growing concern with established consequences.
• Previous outcome assessments lack re-evaluation from diverse perspectives, including nurse managers and directors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the consequences of unfinished nursing care in daily practice.
• To capture perceptions from clinical nurses, nurse managers, and directors.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study design was employed.
• Data collection involved interviews conducted in 2021.
• Content analysis was used for data analysis, adhering to COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Consequences were identified at three levels: nurse, patient, and family caregiver.
• Nurse outcomes included frustration, anxiety, helplessness, and overtime.
• Patient outcomes comprised increased infection risk, prolonged hospital stays, and reduced quality of life.
• Family caregiver outcomes involved relationship difficulties and increased complaints.

Conclusions:

• Unfinished nursing care has multi-level adverse effects on nurses, patients, and families.
• Understanding these consequences from various professional viewpoints is crucial for improving care delivery.
• Addressing unfinished nursing care is essential for enhancing patient safety and healthcare quality.