A new approach to the prevention of nursing care rationing: Cross‐sectional study on positive orientation

AIMS: To assess the effects of nurses' life satisfaction and life orientation on the level of nursing care rationing. BACKGROUND: Best practice within human resource management argues that striving for a positive orientation within the workforce may create a friendly work environment that could promote the employee's development and job satisfaction in a health care organisation. METHODS: A total of 547 nurses were enrolled and assessed using three self-report scales: the Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care-R (BERCA-R), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Then, the data were submitted into bivariate analyses. RESULTS: More pessimistic nurses with low and moderate levels of life satisfaction, and those with a neutral life orientation, presented with significantly higher BERCA-R scores than those who were more optimistic and who had high levels of life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing care rationing depends on psychological factors of life satisfaction and life orientation. Low levels of satisfaction with life and a more pessimistic life orientation negatively contribute towards a higher prevalence of nursing care rationing. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing management policies, including intervention management, should consider ensuring positive orientation is in place to increase job satisfaction and optimism in health care workers.