The relationship between nomophobia and missed nursing care in pediatric nurses: a cross-sectional study

Missed nursing care (MNC) refers to required nursing interventions that are not initiated, delayed, partially performed, or omitted. MNC threatens patient safety and care quality, particularly in vulnerable pediatric populations. Nomophobia, the fear of being disconnected from one’s mobile phone, is prevalent among healthcare professionals. Studies have shown that nomophobia is associated with impaired concentration and clinical performance. However, its relationship with MNC remains unclear, particularly among pediatric nurses. This study examined the association between nomophobia and MNC among pediatric nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2026 among pediatric nurses at the Children’s Medical Center and Bahrami Hospital, two major pediatric hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Using simple random sampling, 210 nurses were recruited. Data were collected using the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the MISSCARE Survey–Pediatric Version. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Participants demonstrated a moderate level of nomophobia (82.28 ± 21.84), while the mean MNC score was slightly below the midpoint of the scale (2.80 ± 0.72). A significant positive correlation was observed between nomophobia and MNC ( r = 0.195, P = 0.005). Multiple linear regression showed that higher nomophobia scores (β = 0.174, P = 0.008) and caring for more than three patients per shift (β = 0.467, P < 0.001) were independently associated with higher MNC scores. Higher nomophobia and greater patient workload were independently associated with more frequent MNC. These findings suggest that psychological and work-related factors may be relevant to MNC among pediatric nurses. It is recommended that future studies evaluate the effect of improving staffing levels and implementing supportive interventions addressing nomophobia on MNC. Not applicable.