Staffing the unit with nurses: the role of nurse managers
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 19 May 2021
Issue publication date: 6 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
To explore the staffing practices of nurse managers at the unit.
Design/methodology/approach
Introduction: Ensuring that units are staffed with adequate nurses to render quality nursing care to clients has become increasingly challenging for most hospitals. There is growing evidence linking best patient outcomes and fewer adverse events to the presence of nurses at the bedside. Hospitals require to attract and retain nurses in the units to address the issues of quality, staff and patient safety. Methods: The study used a descriptive phenomenological design to purposively select 15 nurse managers (NMs) and 47 nurses for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions respectively.
Findings
The study found that the demand for nurses to work in the unit was not scientific. Nurses affirmed their frustration of inadequate numbers of staff in the unit especially, at the periphery hospitals. Time can be used as a source of motivation for nurses and nurses should be involved in the development of the duty roster to enable effective compliance. Compensation for additional duties is relevant in nursing.
Research limitations/implications
The research was carried only in one region in Ghana, and the findings may not be the same in the other regions.
Practical implications
Inadequate staffing level has serious implications on patient safety, quality of care and staff outcomes. This situation necessitates the implementation of health sector staffing norms to ensure the right calibre of mix staff are recruited and retained.
Originality/value
This study is the first in Ghana that we aware of that explore staffing practices at the unit that identifies factors that impact staff schedules for effective care.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to sincerely thank the management of hospitals and all the nurse managers and nurses who participated in the study.
Funding: No funding was received either from individuals, not-for-profit organizations or commercial entities.
Competing interests: No competing interest.
Citation
Ansah Ofei, A.M., Paarima, Y., Barnes, T. and Kwashie, A.A. (2021), "Staffing the unit with nurses: the role of nurse managers", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 35 No. 5, pp. 614-627. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2020-0134
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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