The results can be used when planning decision support systems and when defining the nurse managers' tasks in peri-operative settings.

The literature shows that delayed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and discharge delays from the ICU are associated with increased adverse events and higher costs. Identifying factors related to delays will provide information to practice improvements, which contribute to better patient outcomes. The aim of this integrative review was to explore the incidence of patients' admission and discharge delays in critical care and to identify organisational factors associated with these delays. Seven studies were included. The major findings are as follows: (1) explanatory research about discharge delays is scarce and one study on admission delays was found, (2) delays are a common problem mostly due to organisational factors, occurring in 38% of admissions and 22–67% of discharges, and (3) redesigning care processes by improving information management and coordination between units and interdisciplinary teams could reduce discharge delays. In conclusion, patient outcomes can be improved through efficient and safe care processes. More exploratory research is needed to identify factors that contribute to admission and discharge delays to provide evidence for clinical practice improvements. Shortening delays requires an interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach to the whole patient flow process. Conclusions should be made with caution due to the limited number of articles included in this review.

Aim To describe and compare shift leaders’ important information needs by profession, unit, time of day and type of hospital. Background Professionals responsible for care provision in hospital units make ad hoc decisions about available resources to meet patient care needs but, currently, much effort is needed to obtain the necessary information to support decision making. Methods This survey was carried out in nine randomly chosen hospitals in Finland. Nurses and physicians responsible for day‐to‐day operations were eligible to participate (N = 873). The response rate was 65% (n = 570, including 453 nurses and 111 physicians). Data were collected in 2015–2016 using the Hospital Shift Leaders’ Information Needs Questionnaire with 114 information need items. Results Shift leaders reported many real‐time information needs. Nurses’ important information needs concerned patients, personnel, and materials, and physicians’ needs focused on patient care. Large mean differences existed in the needs between nurses and physicians, and imaging units when compared to other units. Conclusion Real‐time information systems for shift leaders should consider the needs of different users to support shared situational awareness and operational intelligence. Implications for nursing management The important information‐need items identified here may be used in designing and developing information systems that better support shift leaders’ work in hospitals.

The questionnaire can be used to determine important information when developing information systems to support day-to-day operations management in hospitals.