Evaluating Nursing Staff Perception of Hospital Readiness for Continuity of Essential Health Care Services and Surge Capacity in Line With COVID-19

Abstract

A healthcare system needs surge capacity and continuity of care when health care services and the needs of the patients exceed existing resources. A total of 300 nurses were recruited from one hospital in Saudi Arabia. They completed self-administered, online questionnaires. The questionnaire assessed participants’ socio-demographic data and their perceptions regarding hospital readiness for continuity of essential health care services and surge capacity in line with COVID-19. The findings revealed that nursing staff had a moderate mean score regarding hospital readiness for continuity of health-care services (3.89±0.61) and an average mean value regarding surge capacity of 3. 83±0. 63. Also, the value of R2 of surge capacity in healthcare can predict 82.9% of the variance in hospital readiness for continuity of health care services in terms of surge capacity. Hospital administrators could propose hospital regulations and protocols for the management of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients in addition to designing a continuing education program for health professionals at all levels related to prevention, control, and management of COVID-19 suspected and confirmed patients.