Factors associated with nursing work climate deterioration as related to shift exchanges

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Behavior
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Shift exchanges are critical junctures in healthcare delivery.
• The work environment significantly influences nursing staff performance and patient outcomes.
• Understanding factors affecting the work environment during shift changes is essential for quality improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors that negatively affect the work environment during nursing shift exchanges.
• To explore the impact of workload, absenteeism, and interpersonal relationships on the handover process.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, descriptive-analytical study utilizing a phenomenological approach.
• Data collected through interviews and non-participant observation with 32 healthcare professionals.
• Analysis involved epoché, description, horizontalization, and chromatic techniques.

Main Results:

• Workload directly impacts the quality of patient care.
• Absenteeism prolongs handover times.
• Interpersonal relationships significantly influence the effectiveness of the handover process.
• A shift exchange model and patient reception instrument were developed.

Conclusions:

• Workload and interpersonal relationships are key determinants of the nursing work environment during shift exchanges.
• Improvements in these areas can enhance patient care quality and operational efficiency.