Implicit rationing of nursing care reported by nurses from different types of hospitals and hospital units

Abstract

AbstractAims and ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate differences in assessing implicit rationing of nursing care by Czech nurses with respect to the type of unit and type of hospital.BackgroundImplicit rationing of nursing care may differ across different types of hospitals and hospital units.DesignThis study used a multicentre cross‐sectional study design.MethodsThe STROBE checklist for observational cross‐sectional studies was followed for reporting of the research study. The sample included 8209 nurses providing direct care to medical and surgical patients in 14 acute care Czech hospitals. The main outcome was implicit rationing of nursing care as measured with a Czech version of the Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care (PIRNCA) instrument. Data were collected from September 2019 to October 2020.ResultsThe most frequently rationed nursing care activity was timely response to patient or family request/need, followed by emotional or psychological support and adequate supervision of delegated tasks. More implicitly rationed nursing care was reported in medical units. Statistical differences were found in rating 25 items and the PIRNCA total score. Nurses from middle‐sized hospitals reported implicitly rationed care more frequently than those from large hospitals.ConclusionMore rationed care was reported by nurses from medical units and nurses from middle‐sized hospitals. Organisational variables (the type of unit and type of hospital) influence the implicit rationing of nursing care in our study.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThe findings call for nursing managers to pay attention to organisational variables which may affect the implicit rationing of nursing care.