Approaches to workload in psychiatric and mental health nursing

Levels and influencing factors of mental workload among intensive care unit nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the levels and influencing factors of mental workload in intensive care unit nurses.

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit nurses have a high mental workload level. To our knowledge, no meta-analytic research investigating the levels of mental workload in intensive care unit nurses and related factors has yet been performed.

DESIGN

This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Eleven electronic databases were searched from the database setup dates until 31 December 2022. The research team independently conducted study selection, quality assessments, data extractions and analysis of all included studies. The PRISMA guideline was used to guide reportage of the systematic review and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included. In these studies, the pooled mean score of mental workload was 68.07 (95%CI:64.39-71.75). Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated that intensive care unit nurses' mental workload differed significantly by countries, sample size and publication year. The mental workload influential factors considered were demographic, work-related and psychological factors.

CONCLUSION

Hospital administrators should develop interventions to reduce mental workload to enhance the mental health of intensive care unit nurses and nursing care quality. Hospital managers should pay attention to the mental health of nurses and guide them to correctly relieve occupational stress and reduce mental workload.

Technological innovation for workload allocation in nursing care management: an integrative review

Background

Technology reduces the nursing workload, improve the quality care processes, patient's safety, and avoid staff burnout. Innovative technologies are disrupting healthcare systems by improving the efficiency of processes and management. There is a discussion on the benefits, challenges, and barriers of these technologies and considering human factors of nursing management. The aim was to analyze the influence of technologies on the distribution of workload for nursing care management.

Methods

An integrative literature review was performed. Four databases were searched: Scopus, Scielo, PUBMED, and CINALH following PRISMA guidelines. Articles published from January 2016 to December 2020, published in English, Spanish and Portuguese were included. Studies were excluded when they were not original research, did not met the quality criteria or they did not answer the research questions. Quality appraisal was performed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool version 1.4 (CCAT). Two reviewers independently examined the title and abstract for eligibility according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

2818 potentially relevant articles were found, but once the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the abstracts were analyzed, 177 remained for evaluation. After following the PRISMA Guidelines, 35 studies were included in the review. Three categories were identified: Nursing workload; Information technologies and technological means for management; Technology acceptance.

Conclusions

Technology has the potential to improve care management by estimating nurse workload in ICUs and non-critical units, but scientific evidence is more detailed in the former type of services. The literature provides insights about the factors that factors and the barriers that promote the technology acceptance and usability. We did not find studies comparing technologies and no scientific evidence proving improvements in care.

Decoding Nursing Job Demands: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study Assessing Nursing Workload in Hospital Medical-Surgical Wards

Background

Nursing workload is largely studied but poorly explored under physical, mental, and emotional dimensions. Currently, only a limited number of variables have been linked to nursing workload and work contexts.

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate whether it is feasible to identify variables that consistently correlate with nursing workload and others that are specific to the context.

Methods

We employed a descriptive correlational analysis and a cross-sectional design. Data were collected through a survey distributed to registered nurses working across Italy, at the conclusion of randomly assigned morning or afternoon shifts.

Results

We received 456 surveys from 195 shifts, collected from nurses in four public and two private hospitals. Commonly associated variables with nursing workload dimensions included patient complexity of care, admission/discharge or transfer, informing patients/relatives, contacting physicians, and unscheduled activities. Variables categorized as setting-specific were patient isolation and specialties, nurse-to-patient ratio, adequacy of staff in the shift, peer collaboration, healthcare documentation, educating others, and medical urgency.

Conclusions

In summary, certain variables consistently correlate with nursing workload across settings, while others are specific to the context of care. It is imperative for nurses and nurse managers to measure the nursing workload in various dimensions, enabling the prompt implementation of improvement actions.

Assessment of organizational dynamics in a Psychosocial Care Center from the multidisciplinary team's perspective

OBJECTIVES

to assess organizational dynamics in a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs from the multidisciplinary team's perspective.

METHODS

an evaluative, qualitative study, supported by the Fourth Generation Assessment theoretical-methodological framework. It was carried out in a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs from September 2019 to March 2020. Data collection took place through observation, individual open-ended interviews and negotiation sessions. The informants were 12 professionals. Analysis was based on Constant Comparative Method.

RESULTS

it was highlighted as potential of organizational dynamics, being an outpatient service, trying to address the deficiencies of RAPS and understanding the importance of matrix support. Among the challenges are the fragility of teamwork, reception, insufficient training, worker profile and overload.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the importance of understanding the work process and the care flow is highlighted, in order to strengthen the Psychosocial Care Network.

Avaliação da dinâmica organizacional em Centro de Atenção Psicossocial na perspectiva da equipe multidisciplinar

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a dinâmica organizacional em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas na perspectiva da equipe multidisciplinar. Métodos: estudo avaliativo, qualitativo, apoiado no referencial teórico-metodológico da Avaliação de Quarta Geração. Realizado em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas, de setembro de 2019 a março 2020. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio da observação, entrevista aberta individual e sessão de negociação. Os informantes foram 12 profissionais, e a análise se baseou no Método Comparativo Constante. Resultados: foram destacadas como potencialidades da dinâmica organizacional ser um serviço ambulatorial, tentar suprir as deficiências da RAPS e entender a importância do matriciamento. Dentre os desafios, estão a fragilidade do trabalho em equipe, do acolhimento, a insuficiência de capacitações, o perfil e sobrecarga do trabalhador. Considerações Finais: salienta-se a importância de compreender o processo de trabalho e o fluxograma de atendimentos, a fim de fortalecer a Rede de Atenção Psicossocial.