Nurse staffing in Portuguese public hospitals

Aim: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of nurse staffing in hospital settings in central and northern Portugal. Background: Nurse staffing is a critical factor for the quality and safety of health care and is still an understudied topic in Portugal. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 850 nurses from 12 public hospitals in the central and northern regions of Portugal. Results: Nurse staffing in these hospital units is insufficient, especially in internal medicine units and central hospitals. Nurses' perceptions are in line with the objective data. Conclusions: The shortage of nurses is a horizontal issue that is especially serious in internal medicine units and central hospitals and a potential threat to the quality of care. Implications for Nursing Management: The results stress the need for an urgent leadership intervention in nurse staffing levels in the hospitals analysed in this study. Contextual knowledge about nurse staffing is essential for decision-making and supporting health and human resource management policies.

Automated summary

The study reveals that nurse staffing is insufficient in public hospitals in central and northern Portugal, especially in internal medicine units and central hospitals. Nurses' perceptions align with objective data, and the shortage of nurses may pose a threat to the quality of care.