Unfinished Nursing Care and their consequences as perceived by nurses: a descriptive qualitative study. Unfinished Nursing Care e le conseguenze percepite dagli infermieri: uno studio qualitativo descrittivo

Unfinished Nursing Care, which expresses the nursing care planned but not delivered or delivered late, is a phenomenon of growing interest in recent years resulting in several conceptual frameworks, each of which has defined what are the consequences of the phenomenon. However, outcomes established to date have not been re-assessed over time and from different perspectives, including also the nurse managers and directors. The aim of the study was to describe the consequences of Unfinished Nursing Care in daily practice as perceived by clinical nurses, nurse managers and directors. A descriptive qualitative study based on interviews was conducted in 2021; data has been analyzed through content analysis, and reported here in accordance with the Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. The consequences of Unfinished Nursing Care have been set at three levels: outcomes for the nurse (increased frustration, anxiety, helplessness, work overtime), outcomes for the patient (increased risk of infections related to care practices, bed rest syndrome; loss of independence and quality of life, disorientation; increase episodes of in undefined care pathways, aggression towards staff, decrease in compliance and increased the length of in-hospital stay) and outcomes affecting the relationship with family caregivers (difficulties in the relationship, disappointment, increased risk of complaints).