Factors affecting the implementation of the nursing process in Cape Town hospitals

Abstract

The nursing process is a cyclical approach used in the delivery of coordinated patient care and consists of five steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Some factors can affect the implementation of the nursing process, such as nurses’ knowledge, patient load, time and resource constraints. The study aimed to explore and describe factors that are considered barriers and enablers to implementing the nursing process. This study was conducted in two private hospitals in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive research design was utilised. Registered nurses were sampled and recruited using a convenience sampling method. A self-administered questionnaire was used for the collection of data. Assistance was obtained from a biostatistician and STATA 17 statistical software was used for data analysis. A total of 58 nurses participated with a response rate of 64%. Approximately 78% (n=46) of respondents mentioned factors such as insufficient time and inadequate staffing which affected the implementation of the nursing process. Most of the respondents (97%; n=55) mentioned that knowledge regarding the application of the nursing process and support from the hospital management (86%; n=51) was an enabling factor for the implementation of the nursing process and the provision of quality support. Barriers that affect its implementation were related to time, staffing, and resource allocation. Whereas managerial and leadership support was perceived as a barrier and enabling factor. It was recommended that addressing the stated factors would enhance the nursing process implementation.