The Relationship Between Nurse Workload and Patient Safety Culture in Hospital Inpatient Wards
Abstract
Background: Nurses' workload is one of the factors that can influence the quality of service and the implementation of patient safety. High workload can increase the physical and mental demands of nurses, thus potentially influencing the formation of a patient safety culture in hospitals. This study aims to analyze the relationship between nurses' workload and patient safety culture in hospital inpatient wards. Methods: This study used a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach. The study sample consisted of 150 nurses working in inpatient wards and were selected according to the study's inclusion criteria. Data collection was carried out using a nurses' workload questionnaire and a patient safety culture questionnaire that had been adjusted to the characteristics of nursing services. Data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the relationship between nurses' workload and patient safety culture with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: Most nurses had a moderate workload, namely 78 respondents (52.0%), while the patient safety culture was mostly in the sufficient category, namely 83 respondents (55.3%). Spearman's test results showed a significant relationship between nurse workload and patient safety culture (r = -0.386; p < 0.001), with a negative relationship and moderate strength. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between nurse workload and patient safety culture. Workload management, staffing adequacy, and strengthening a safety culture require hospital management attention.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46749/jiko.v10i2.226
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