Workload of Nurses and Care Left Undone, Do we Really Care Enough?

Abstract

Background: International researches have consistently demonstrated a clear relationship between inadequate nurse staffing and poor patient outcomes. Because of it can occur as care left undone in many countries, but in Turkey we can encounter as not to care. Therefore, a problem is becoming more important for some countries, which is important for many countries. Aims: The aim of this study is to analyze through work analysis the work of nurses working at services, determine need of patient care synchronously and put forward work load of nurses and determine how far the number of nurses would meet the need for this care. Methodology: This study was planned in descriptive type by choosing the most crowded and biggest state hospital in the city. The aim of this study is to analyze through work analysis the work of nurses working at services, determine need of patient care synchronously and put forward work load of nurses and determine how far the number of nurses would meet the need for this care. Five services of hospital (general surgery, internal medicine, orthopedics, gynecology, pediatric) were chosen as pilot and the study was carried out with 7 volunteer workers who were trained in work analysis and patient classification. Results: In work analysis carried out with observation; it was determined that even if nurses have work load, they do not make patient care, instead they spend time rather with treatment and registration, they use most of their shift time with resting and special works. Conclusions: When literature is analyzed, it is seen that nurse have dense work load and therefore care quality decreases. In our study, it is seen that although nurses have work load, nurses do not spend time as to meet this work load and rather spend time with their personal works.