Iranian staff nurses' views of their productivity and human resource factors improving and impeding it: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundNurses, as the largest human resource element of health care systems, have a major role in providing ongoing, high-quality care to patients. Productivity is a significant indicator of professional development within any professional group, including nurses. The human resource element has been identified as the most important factor affecting productivity. This research aimed to explore nurses' perceptions and experiences of productivity and human resource factors improving or impeding it.MethodA qualitative approach was used to obtain rich data; open, semi-structured interviews were also conducted. The sampling was based on the maximum variant approach; data analysis was carried out by content analysis, with the constant comparative method.ResultsParticipants indicated that human resources issues are the most important factor in promoting or impeding their productivity. They suggested that the factors influencing effectiveness of human resource elements include: systematic evaluation of staff numbers; a sound selection process based on verifiable criteria; provision of an adequate staffing level throughout the year; full involvement of the ward sister in the process of admitting patients; and sound communication within the care team. Paying attention to these factors creates a suitable background for improved productivity and decreases negative impacts of human resource shortages, whereas ignoring or interfering with them would result in lowering of nurses' productivity.ConclusionParticipants maintained that satisfactory human resources can improve nurses' productivity and the quality of care they provide; thereby fulfilling the core objective of the health care system.

Congruence between nurse managers’ and nurses’ competence assessments: A correlation study

“…[16] In a recent study conducted in Iran nurses assessed themselves more competent than their head nurses throughout the NCS measurement. [17] However, cultural and educational differences in health care systems between countries, management styles, [4,6,23,32] work environments, and work climates [33] are factors which influence competence assessments and thus questions the relevance of direct comparability of findings between studies and warrants further research of factors which are related to competence. There is no justified reason why managers' assessments of nurses' competence level should be higher than nurses' selfassessments.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] Positive managernurse relationships, [3] and managers providing support and empowering work environments to their nurses are strongly associated with nurses' self-assessed skills to deliver high quality care, [5] whereas unjustified management behaviour decreases nurses' work motivation. [3] Managers also need to recognize their own resources and shortcomings.…”

“…[2] Due to the issues related to quality care and patient safety, added with the global shortage of professionally qualified nurses, interest in nurses' competence has in-creased. [3][4][5] Consequently, assessment of competence is important in targeting available competence resources in an optimal way. [3] It is also important that nurses' and their managers' competence assessments are realistic and aligned.…”

Estimation of Nursing Staff in Selected Hospitals of Ilam and Ahvaz Provinces, Western Iran

“…Different studies have noted the shortage of nursing workforce as an obstacle for the performance and quality of hospital care (10-12). Also different researches have considered the dissatisfaction of nursing personnel as a related issue to the workforce shortage (13-15). Based on the study results undertaken by Nayyeri et al the lack of nursing workforce can to a considerable degree result in the ignorance of especial care methods and increasing mistakes, ultimately diminishing the quality of care and heightening the dissatisfaction rate of the patient (13).…”

“…Also different researches have considered the dissatisfaction of nursing personnel as a related issue to the workforce shortage (13-15). Based on the study results undertaken by Nayyeri et al the lack of nursing workforce can to a considerable degree result in the ignorance of especial care methods and increasing mistakes, ultimately diminishing the quality of care and heightening the dissatisfaction rate of the patient (13). Other studies have shown that the shortage of nursing personnel results in the loss of up to date knowledge, motivation, severe fatigue and stress in nurses (13, 16).…”