Aim: The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the attitudes and experiences of the medical staff regarding the hospital bed-sharing model.
Design: The present research was a qualitative study.
Methods: This qualitative study used in-depth individual interviews with 7 doctors, 10 clinical nurses and 3 head nurses, which were then transcribed and analysed thematically.
Results: The study identified six overall themes. Issues were raised about the efficient utilization of hospital bed resources, greater challenges for nursing work, adjustment of doctors' work modes, barriers to communication between doctors, nurses, and patients, potential medical risks, and differentiation of patients' medical experience.
Implications for nursing management: Hospital administrators and nurse managers should work together to solve the challenges that medical staff face, including strengthening nursing training, improving medical-nursing collaboration models, standardizing and effective communication strategies, and improving patient experiences.
Keywords: bed management; hospital-wide bed-sharing; interdisciplinary admissions; medical safety.
© 2023 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.