Nursing Workload Influence on Nurses Job Injury and Patient Complication

Abstract

Background: Nursing workload is a major problem that facing health care system and is very influential forphysical and mental condition of nurses as well as for patient outcomes. Aim: To investigate nursing workload influenceon nurses’ job injury and patient complications. Methods: Descriptive correlational design and220 nurses working atOncology Center- Mansoura University included in the study. Two tools were used; nursing staff workload structuredquestionnaire and job related injury, patient related complications and quality of care questionnaire. Results: Themajority of nurses perceived moderate level of total workload, and were experienced back injury. The majority of themwere zero reporting of job injury.The highest perceived adverse events were patient fall but no injury followed by othercomplications as hematoma. There is statistically significant relation between nursing workload and both job-relatedinjury and patients’ complications.Conclusion:Although, most nurses workload moderately and reported that workloadeffect on work and delayed some nursing procedure, they had delivered good nursing care. Also, most of them sufferingfrom back injury and not reporting about this because they thought that the injury was low risk and not important toreport. Patient fall but no injury and hematoma are the highest perceived patient complication. Finally, high nursingworkload produce more job injuries and patients’ complications.Recommendations: Holding regular meeting withnurses to discuss their problems and needs, maintaining adequate staffing, encouraging cooperative and team work spiritamong nurses, maintaining safe work environment, participating nurses in contentious educational programs andscientific conferences are recommended.