Missed Nursing Care in Medical and Surgical Wards in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Missed nursing care is a multifaceted patient safety issue receiving increased attention among healthcare scholars worldwide. There is limited research on missed nursing care in the Jordanian healthcare context. The current study sought to examine the perceptions of Jordanian nurses toward the amount and types of missed nursing care in medical and surgical wards. We also examined the differences in missed care items between public, private, and university hospitals in Jordan. This was a cross-sectional study using the MISSCARE Survey tool. Data collection spanned 4 months between March and July 2021. The final study sample consisted of 672 registered nurses employed in five public, three private, and two university hospitals in Jordan. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficent test. Of the 672 registered nurses who participated, the majority were females ( n = 421; 62.6%). Most participants held a bachelor's degree in nursing ( n = 577; 85.9%). The three most common missed nursing activities in the participating hospitals were: ambulation, oral care, and emotional support. Nurses working in public hospitals reported the highest missed nursing care. The age and number of patients under care significantly correlated with missed nursing care. The findings could help nursing managers develop plans to reduce missed nursing care in their healthcare institutions.