What question did this study set out to answer?

Explore the perspectives of frontline critical care nurses on how staffing levels and heavy workloads affect patient safety, care quality, and staff wellbeing.

August 19, 2026BMC NursingOpen Access

The perspectives of critical care nurses regarding the influence of staffing levels and workload on patients’ care quality and safety: a qualitative study from Saudi Arabia

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Authors

MAMaha AlmarhabiKing Abdulaziz University IAIbrahim AlomariKing Abdulaziz University FAFahad AldalbahiKing Abdulaziz University

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals heavy workloads and inadequate staffing compromise patient safety and staff wellbeing in critical care nurses, highlighting the need for systemic organizational reforms.

Key Points

Explore the perspectives of frontline critical care nurses on how staffing levels and heavy workloads affect patient safety, care quality, and staff wellbeing.
Conducted a descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews at a public tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Recruited 12 full-time critical care nurses (7 from the intensive care unit and 5 from the emergency department; N=12) via purposive-convenience sampling.
Analyzed interview transcripts using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework.
Identified unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios that cause rushed care and heighten the risk of clinical incidents, including delayed care, patient falls, self-extubation, and medication errors.
Demonstrated that excessive workloads induce substantial physical strain, psychological burnout, and staff turnover, leaving nurses to rely on informal peer teamwork as their primary coping mechanism.
Outlined nurse-recommended organizational solutions, such as hiring more registered nurses, delegating non-clinical tasks to patient care technicians, and deploying automated charting systems.

Cite This Study

Almarhabi et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563d703308d306e2d72e8 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-05243-1

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals heavy workloads and inadequate staffing compromise patient safety and staff wellbeing in critical care nurses, highlighting the need for systemic organizational reforms.

The perspectives of critical care nurses regarding the influence of staffing levels and workload on patients’ care quality and safety: a qualitative study from Saudi Arabia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

The perspectives of critical care nurses regarding the influence of staffing levels and workload on patients’ care quality and safety: a qualitative study from Saudi Arabia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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