Missed nursing care and nurses' intention to leave: An integrative review

Abstract

Aim: To identify the factors that are associated with missed nursing care and the nurses' intention to leave.

Background: Errors and mistakes are an inevitable part of work, but there is increased evidence that missed care is a concerning issue affecting nurses' ability to effectively coordinate, provide and evaluate care interventions delivered to patients globally.

Evaluation: An integrative review of qualitative and quantitative studies examining the consequences of missed nursing care, including intention to leave.

Key issues: Eight papers met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis generated three themes: Prevalence of missed nursing care, Factors associated with missed nursing care, Factors that impact on missed care and influence the intention to leave.

Conclusion: The outcomes of this review demonstrate the need for critical interventions to address the factors that can impact the provision of high-quality nursing care.

Implications for practice: Missed nursing care is not only a patient safety issue but may also contribute to the inadequate staffing levels. And, better understanding of the factors that affect the intention to leave by nurse managers can stimulate the development of appropriate leadership styles in combination with adjustment of workplace to prevent intention to leave.

Keywords: integrative review; intention to leave; missed care; nurses.