The relationship between resilience and missed nursing care in neonatal intensive care units: a cross-sectional study in Iran

OBJECTIVE: Missed nursing care (MNC) is a critical issue in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), affecting patient outcomes and healthcare quality. Resilience is often regarded as a protective factor against workplace stress and adverse outcomes; however, our findings suggest it is not a significant predictor of neonatal nursing care quality. This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience and MNC among NICU nurses. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2024 and August 2024 among 150 NICU nurses from hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were gathered through census sampling, employing the Missed Nursing Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (MCNICU) questionnaire alongside the 10-Item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between resilience and MNC. RESULTS: The mean resilience score was 25.86 ± 7.41, indicating a moderate level of resilience among NICU nurses. The mean overall frequency of MNC was 24.75 ± 0.86, with the most frequently missed activities being providing emotional support to parents (2.71 ± 0.47), bathing neonates (2.53 ± 0.65), and providing oral care for ventilated neonates (2.48 ± 0.64). Multiple linear regression analysis showed no significant association between resilience and MNC (P = 0.58). The results revealed that resilience was not a significant predictor of MNC among NICU nurses in our study. Future studies should explore additional psychological and organizational factors affecting MNC in NICUs.