The experience of nurses to reduce implicit rationing of nursing care: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Background Implicit rationing of nursing care can adversely affect patient safety and the quality of care, and increase nurses’ burnout and turnover tendency. Implicit rationing care occurs at the nurse-to-patient level (micro-level), and nurses are direct participants. Therefore, the strategies based on experience of nurses to reduce implicit rationing care have more reference value and promotion significance. The aim of the study is to explore the experience of nurses to reduce implicit rationing care, thereby to provide references for conducting randomized controlled trials to reduce implicit rationing care. Methods This is a descriptive phenomenological study. Purpose sampling was conducted nationwide. There are 17 nurses were selected and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed via thematic analysis. Results Our study found that nurses’ reported experience of coping with implicit rationing of nursing care contained three aspects: personal, resource, and managerial. Three themes were extracted from the results of the study: (1) improving personal literacy; (2) supplying and optimizing resources and (3) standardizing management mode. The improvement of nurses’ own qualities are the prerequisites, the supply and optimization of resources is an effective strategy, and clear scope of work has attracted the attention of nurses. Conclusion The experience of dealing with implicit nursing rationing includes many aspects. Nursing managers should be grounded in nurses’ perspectives when developing strategies to reduce implicit rationing of nursing care. Promoting the improvement of nurses’ skills, improving staffing level and optimizing scheduling mode are promising measures to reduce hidden nursing rationing.

Nurses’ perspectives on professional self-concept and its influencing factors: A qualitative study

“…Furthermore, nurses are the mainstay of clinical care, and their attitudes are key factors in shaping the overall quality of care. A positive, optimistic, and confident attitude toward life can lead to quality nursing care and inspire nurses to commit to their work [ 44 ]. Although the majority of the participants in this study indicated that they maintained a focused and devoted attitude towards their nursing work, some participants mentioned potentially negative attitudes owing to work pressure or for other reasons.…”