Nursing Personnel Perception toward Nursing Shortages Factors and its Effect on Their Work at Benha University Hospital

Abstract

Nursing shortage is one of the most significant barriers of quality of nursing care and patient outcome. Aim: The study aimed to identify nursing personnel perception toward nursing shortage factors and its effect on their work at Benha University Hospitals. Design: Descriptive correlation research design. Setting: The study was conducted at Benha University Hospital. Subjects: Convenient sample consisted of 50 head nurses and 110 staff nurses. Tools: Data of this study were collected by using: (1) Nursing shortage factors questionnaire (2) Strategies for solving nursing shortage questionnaire. The results: The findings of the study showed that; most factors of nursing shortage are related to work overload, inadequate salary and incentives and unsafe work environment. The most study sample agreed on the nursing shortage leads to increase job stressor and low level of productivity. In addition to most study sample agreed on the most strategies to manage the problem of nursing shortage were related to improve nursing image and activate the role of the union. The study concluded: Most studied sample agreed on nursing shortage factors effect on nursing work. The study recommended: that hospital administrators and regulators should take action to ensure that an adequate nursing staff is available to achieve quality nursing care.