Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Perceptions of Work Environments: A Cross-Sectional Study From Five European Counties.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Healthcare Management
• Work Environment Studies

Background:

• Nurses' perceptions of their work environments are critical for quality patient care.
• The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) has established standards for healthy work environments.
• Understanding national differences in these perceptions is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess intensive care nurses' perceptions of their work environments against AACN standards.
• To explore the impact of work environments on care quality.
• To identify national and demographic variations in these perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey design was employed.
• The Critical Elements of a Healthy Work Environment Scale (CEHWES) was administered to 1183 nurses across Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, Poland, and Romania.
• Data were analyzed to determine perception scores, awareness, and implementation levels of standards.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported moderate perception of healthy work environment standards (mean scores 2.6-2.8).
• Skilled communication and effective decision-making were the most recognized standards.
• Only 25.8% reported full or significant implementation, with significant differences observed across countries.

Conclusions:

• Intensive care nurses perceive their work environments as moderately healthy.
• Country-specific differences necessitate tailored awareness and training programs.
• Improved implementation of healthy work environment standards is directly linked to enhanced quality of care.