Occurrence and reasons for unfinished nursing care between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients

To compare the occurrence and the reasons for unfinished care among coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and non-COVID-19 patients as perceived by nurses.

The recent pandemic has imposed tremendous changes in hospitals in all countries.

Investigating the occurrence of and the reasons for unfinished care as perceived by nurses working in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 units might help to gain insights and to address future pandemics.

A comparative cross-sectional study based on the STROBE guideline has been conducted during November 2020-January 2021. The Unfinished Nursing Care Survey, comprising part A (elements) and part B (reasons), was administered online to all 479 nurses working in medical and surgical units converted progressively into COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 units. A total of 90 and 200 nurses participated, respectively.

No differences in the unfinished care occurrence have emerged at the overall level between nurses caring for COVID (2.10 out of 5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94-2.27) and non-COVID-19 patients (2.16; 95% CI, 2.06-2.26). Reasons for unfinished care reported significant higher averages among nurses caring for COVID (2.21; 95% CI, 2.10-2.31) as compared with those caring for non-COVID-19 patients (2.07; 95% CI, 2.01-2.14; p = 0.030).

The overall occurrence of unfinished care was slightly higher compared with pre-pandemic data in all patients.

Reasons triggering unfinished care were slightly different and were due to priority setting and human resources issues, which were perceived at higher significance among nurses working in COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 units.

A clear map of action has emerged that might be valid in the post-COVID-19 era as well as in the case of future pandemics.