Magnitude and reasons for missed nursing care among nurses working in South Gondar Zone public hospitals, Amhara regional state, Northcentral Ethiopia: institution-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Missed nursing care has become a global health concern because of its impact on patient safety and nursing care quality. It is a critical indicator of nursing care quality and adverse patient outcomes. However, data regarding the magnitude and reasons for missed nursing care is limited in the study area. This study aimed to determine the magnitude and reasons for missed nursing care among nurses working in South Gondar zone public hospitals.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among nurses working in South Gondar zone public hospitals from December 12, 2023, to January 20, 2024. The data was collected through self-administered MISSCARE survey tools. The collected data were entered into EpiData V.4.2 and then exported to SPSS V.25 for analysis. The statistical significance of the association between outcome variables and independent variables was declared at a P-value less than 5% (0.05) at 95% CI.

Result: The magnitude of missed nursing care in the study area was 51.7% (95% CI: 46.89-55.47%). Medications administered as ordered (69.8%), skin/wound care (69.8%), vital signs assessed as ordered and accordingly (68.8%), and IV/central line site care and assessments according to hospital policy (66.2%) were among the nursing care elements that were frequently missed. Material resource (76.7%), teamwork (69.1%), labor resource (65.5%), and communication (56.3%) were the main reasons for missed nursing care. Inadequate number of staff 2.9 (1.75, 4.75), training (CPD) in nursing care 1.9 (1.16, 3.14), equipment's not available 3.9 (2.16, 6.89), and medication were not available. 4.4 (2.48, 7.76) were associated with missed nursing care.

Conclusion: The proportion of commonly missed nursing care was high. After adjusting for demographic variables, labor resources, material resources, and communication were reasons for commonly missed nursing care. Increasing the number of nurses, investing in nurse training, working on equipment availability, and increasing medication availability could minimize frequent omissions of nursing care.