A systematic review : Unfinished nursing care and the impact on the nurse outcomes of job satisfaction, burnout, intention-to-leave and turnover

Journal article


Stemmer, Renate, Bassi, Erika, Ezra, Sigal, Harvey, Clare, Jojo, Natasha, Meyer, Gabriele, Özsaban, Aysel, Paterson, Catherine, Shifaza, Fathimath, Turner, Murray B. and Bail, Kasia. (2022). A systematic review : Unfinished nursing care and the impact on the nurse outcomes of job satisfaction, burnout, intention-to-leave and turnover. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 78(8), pp. 2290-2303. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15286
AuthorsStemmer, Renate, Bassi, Erika, Ezra, Sigal, Harvey, Clare, Jojo, Natasha, Meyer, Gabriele, Özsaban, Aysel, Paterson, Catherine, Shifaza, Fathimath, Turner, Murray B. and Bail, Kasia
Abstract

Aim
To investigate the association of unfinished nursing care on nurse outcomes.

Design
Systematic review in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline.

Data sources
CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, ProQuest and Scopus databases were searched up until April 2020.

Review Methods
Two independent reviewers conducted each stage of the review process: screening eligibility, quality appraisal using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool; and data extraction. Narrative synthesis compared measurements and outcomes.

Results
Nine hospital studies were included, and all but one were cross-sectional multicentre studies with a variety of sampling sizes (136–4169 nurses). Studies had low internal validity implying a high risk of bias. There was also a high potential for bias due to non-response. Only one study explicitly sought to examine nurse outcomes as a primary dependent variable, as most included nurse outcomes as mediating variables. Of the available data, unfinished nursing care was associated with: reduced job satisfaction (5/7 studies); burnout (1/3); and intention-to-leave (2/2). No association was found with turnover (2/2).

Conclusion
Unfinished nursing care remains a plausible mediator of negative nurse outcomes, but research is limited to single-country studies and self-reported outcome measures. Given challenges in the sector for nurse satisfaction, recruitment and retention, future research needs to focus on nurse outcomes as a specific aim of inquiry in relation to unfinished nursing care.

Impact
Unfinished nursing care has previously been demonstrated to be associated with staffing, education and work environments, with negative associations with patient outcomes (patient satisfaction, medication errors, infections, incidents and readmissions). This study offers new evidence that the impact of unfinished nursing care on nurses is under investigated. Policymakers can prioritize the funding of robust observational studies and quasi-experimental studies with a primary aim to understand the impact of unfinished nursing care on nurse outcomes to better inform health workforce sustainability.

Keywordsburnout; professional; care rationing; health resource allocation; job satisfaction; personnel retention; personnel turnover; quality of nursing care; systematic review; unfinished nursing care
Year2022
JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing
Journal citation78 (8), pp. 2290-2303
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISSN0309-2402
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15286
PubMed ID35533090
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85129619941
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range2290-2303
FunderEuropean Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 May 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted10 Apr 2022
Deposited02 Apr 2025
Grant IDRANCARE CA-15208
Additional information

© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/918qy/a-systematic-review-unfinished-nursing-care-and-the-impact-on-the-nurse-outcomes-of-job-satisfaction-burnout-intention-to-leave-and-turnover

Download files


Publisher's version
OA_Stemmer_2022_A_systematic_review_Unfinished_nursing_care.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 3
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse health practitioners in dominant culture practice : A scoping review
Harris, Mikaela, Lau-Bogaardt, Timothea, Shifaza, Fathimath and Attrill, Stacie. (2025). The experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse health practitioners in dominant culture practice : A scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education. 30, pp. 613-643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-024-10359-7
The impact of counseling on the anxiety level of the surrounding community due to positive indication of residents of Covid-19
Proboningsih, Jujuk, Suprihatin, Endah, Joeliantina, Anita, Sari, Aida Novita and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2024). The impact of counseling on the anxiety level of the surrounding community due to positive indication of residents of Covid-19. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. 4(2), pp. 43-49. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v2i3.6
The experiences of informal caregivers of people with dementia in web-based psychoeducation programs : Systematic review and metasynthesis
Yu, Ying, Xiao, Lily, Ullah, Shahid, Meyer, Claudia, Wang, Jing, Pot, Anne Margriet and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2023). The experiences of informal caregivers of people with dementia in web-based psychoeducation programs : Systematic review and metasynthesis. JMIR Aging. 6, p. Article e47152. https://doi.org/10.2196/47152
Causal links behind why Australian midwifery care is missed
Blackman, Ian R. and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2022). Causal links behind why Australian midwifery care is missed. Journal of Nursing Management. 30(8), pp. 4578-4586. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13879
The presence of missed care : A staff development response
Blackman, Ian, Shifaza, Fathimath, McNeill, Liz, Willis, Eileen, Verrall, Claire and Henderson, Julie. (2022). The presence of missed care : A staff development response. Journal of Nursing Management. 30(7), pp. 3568-3577. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13714
The effect of the combination of counseling and dhikr interventions : Self-acceptance of the elderly in nursing home
Minarti, Minarti, Kastubi, Kastubi, Fadilah, N. and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2022). The effect of the combination of counseling and dhikr interventions : Self-acceptance of the elderly in nursing home. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. 2(2), pp. 80-85. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v2i2.5
The stunting scorecard for early prevention : Development and external validation of a novel tool for predicting stunting risk in children under 5 years of age
Mardiyana, Enung, Ambarwati, Rini and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2022). The stunting scorecard for early prevention : Development and external validation of a novel tool for predicting stunting risk in children under 5 years of age. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. 2(3), pp. 137-144. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v2i3.2
Factors affecting the adoption of the Community of Inquiry Framework in Australian online nursing education : A transition theory perspective
Smadi, Omar, Chamberlain, Diane, Shifaza, Fathimath and Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad. (2021). Factors affecting the adoption of the Community of Inquiry Framework in Australian online nursing education : A transition theory perspective. Nurse Education in Practice. 55, p. Article 103166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103166
A Community of Inquiry lens into nursing education : The educators’ experiences and perspectives from three Australian universities
Smadi, Omar, Chamberlain, Diane, Shifaza, Fathimath and Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad. (2021). A Community of Inquiry lens into nursing education : The educators’ experiences and perspectives from three Australian universities. Nurse Education in Practice. 54, p. Article 103114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103114
Picture guided learning - A picture-based clinicalskill teaching resource in undergraduate nursing in South Australia
Yu, Ying, Price, Jodie, Pearson, Vincent, Pront, Leeanne, Sterland, Angie, Redden, Maurine and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2021). Picture guided learning - A picture-based clinicalskill teaching resource in undergraduate nursing in South Australia. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. 1(2), pp. 42-49. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v1i2.2
An exploration of the factors that impact on clinical practices of nurses in applying evidence-based practice
Shifaza, Fathimath and Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad. (2021). An exploration of the factors that impact on clinical practices of nurses in applying evidence-based practice. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. 1(2), pp. 34-42. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v1i2.1
Fast and furious shift to online education requires pedagogy transformation
Smadi, Omar, Chamberlain, Diane, Shifaza, Fathimath and Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad. (2021). Fast and furious shift to online education requires pedagogy transformation. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 27(5), pp. 47-47. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.075439233060770
Challenges and solutions for collecting data in health research : Experiences of Australian doctoral and early career researchers
Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad, Taylor, Alan, Lunnay, Belinda, Kuot, Abraham, Wechkunanukul, Hannah, Smadi, Omar, Pillen, Heath and Shifaza, Fathimath. (2021). Challenges and solutions for collecting data in health research : Experiences of Australian doctoral and early career researchers. In In Islam, M. Rezaul, Khan, Niaz Ahmed, Ah, Siti Hajar Abu Bakar, Wahab, Haris Abd and Hamidi, Mashitah Binti (Ed.). Field guide for research in community settings : Tools, methods, challenges and strategies pp. 11-24 Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800376328.00008