EXPLORING THE EFFECT OF NURSE STAFFING RATIOS ON PATIENT OUTCOMES IN AN EMERGENCY SETTING: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS IN A PRIVATE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Introduction:

Optimal care provision is the major concern among the healthcare leaders globally, often influenced by inadequate staffing levels and linked with negative patient outcomes. Nurses in tertiary care settings face several challenges during their heavy shifts, which impact their ability to provide comprehensive care. Hence, optimal patient-nurse ratios are fundamental for providing optimum quality healthcare, but this remains underexplored in the Pakistani healthcare context. Therefore, our study aimed to explore nurses' experiences and perceptions and possible solutions to mitigate such challenges.

Methodology:

A Qualitative Exploratory Descriptive Design utilizing semi-structured in-depth face to face interviews, guided by Donabedian’s conceptual model, was used to inquire this study. Through purposeful sampling, 13 participants were selected from the tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Furthermore, it employed thematic analysis to identify patterns and insights related to staffing ratios and patient outcomes.

Findings:

The finding revealed that insufficient staffing has a detrimental impact on patient outcomes, which in turn raises stress levels, lowers nurses’ wellbeing, and increases nurse turnover.

Conclusion:

The findings emphasize the critical importance of adequate staffing, which is crucial for enhancing quality care and improving effective patient outcomes. Moreover, the study also identified gaps, including the need for retaining experienced staff, investment in career-enhancing opportunities for nurses, and adoption of evidence-based staffing models along with self-scheduling of working hours, which could significantly enhance nurses’ work-life balance