Pflegerische Versorgungsdefizite in deutschen Krankenhäusern – Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Befragung von Krankenhaus-Leitungspersonen

Abstract

Currently, almost every second hospital is in financial deficit. Because of financial restrictions in the nursing profession, the staff has not been adequately adjusted to the increasing case volume. Current studies emphasize the rising workload of nursing staff and the resulting deficits in patient care. The aim of this study was to research whether the supervisory staff (nursing directors, chief physicians and hospital managers) also perceives these problems. First, semi-structured interviews with chief physicians, nursing directors, hospital managers and hospital owners were conducted. Based on these qualitative insights, occupational group-specific questionnaires were developed. In spring 2014, these were sent to almost 5 000 supervisors. There was a response rate of 43%. All respondents confirmed considerable economic restrictions related to the patient care - the greatest deficits were perceived concerning nursing care and personal attention given to patients. Moreover, the nursing directors were of the opinion that the nursing staff did not have enough time to perform all the necessary services. In particular, inadequate staffing was seen to be the cause of the rationing of nursing services. However, not only financial constraints but also a shortage of skilled staff increased the likelihood of withholding nursing services. In sum, all supervisory groups perceived large deficits in nursing care. With the current staff levels, nursing directors can hardly ensure provision of all necessary nursing services. The nurse support program will improve this situation slightly. In the medium term, the implementation of other instruments is necessary.

Do perceived working conditions and patient safety culture correlate with objective workload and patient outcomes: A cross-sectional explorative study from a German university hospital

“…Demands on hospital staff are growing for various other reasons too, such as increasing complexity of diseases due to demographic change [3–5], growing technical demands, and the need for new skills due to innovation [6]. Workload and work environment not only impact patient safety and quality of care [7], but also work-related safety of employees.…”

Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study

“…The challenges of staff shortage are widely reported throughout medical professions (e.g. nurses) due to economical restrictions and shortage of qualified personal [33].…”

Occupational Health Hazard Experiences of Doctors and Nurses at a Tertiary Hospital in Bangladesh

“…Depending on the country, the incident report system may or may not be utilized as frequently for HCW accidents as it is for patient occurrences; despite the high prevalence of work-related injuries, there is still a need for organizational learning and enhanced safety [13]. Because of the ever-changing character of modern hospitals, healthcare staff encounter substantial shifts in psycho-social working conditions, such as shortages or imbalances in skills, heightened workload, and increasing task complexity [10], [14], [15]. Consequently, there is an increase in staff sickness and absenteeism over time, a decline in motivation, and a rise in patient complaints and dissatisfaction with the service [16].…”