Purpose: Missed nursing care (MNC) is a worldwide patient safety issue. However, little is known about MNC in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The aim of this paper is to explore the elements and factors influencing the occurrence of MNC in the NICU in a teaching hospital in Amman, Jordan.
Design and methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with NICU nurses. Purposeful sampling was used to select the participants and data collection was performed in the period August 2022 to September 2022. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: The participants included 15 female nurses. The majority of the participants held a bachelor's degree in nursing. Five themes emerged from the analysis of data namely: (1) Conceptualizations of MNC (2) Missed care elements in the NICU (3) Reasons behind MNC in the NICU (4) Consequences of MNC and (5) Strategies to reduce the occurrence of MNC. Feeding,changing diapers, monitoring vital signs, and medication administrationwere identified as missed care elements in the NICU.
Conclusions: The findings of this research may inform the development of interventions that may reduce missed care incidents in the NICU.
Practice implications: Addressing staff shortages and the provision of necessary materials and equipment appear to be the key factors that may reduce the frequency of MNC. Thus, enhancing patient safety and quality healthcare in this challenging healthcare environment.
Keywords: Jordan; Missed nursing care; Neonatal intensive care unit; Nursing care left undone; Qualitative research; Unfinished nursing care.
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