Nurse absence--the causes and the consequences

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Human Resource Planning

Background:

• Nurse absence is a common workplace issue and a source of conflict between nursing management and staff.
• Understanding absence is crucial for effective human resource planning and creating balanced work schedules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance nursing management's comprehension of nurse absence as a withdrawal behavior.
• To provide a framework for managing planned and unplanned absence to improve scheduling and resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• The paper discusses planned and unplanned absence, outlining measurement types that consider employee absence behavior.
• A hypothetical case study illustrates the application of the proposed absence management method.
• A seven-stage calculation method for schedule planning that incorporates absence control is detailed.

Main Results:

• The proposed method offers a structured approach for nursing management to calculate schedules.
• It highlights essential processes for integrating planned and unplanned absence into organizational control.
• Effective management of absence is demonstrated as critical for operational efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a systematic approach to managing nurse absence is vital for healthcare organizations.
• The proposed calculation method aids in achieving well-balanced schedules and effective human resource planning.
• Addressing employee absence behavior proactively improves overall organizational management.