OPTIMIZING NURSING PERFORMANCE IN CRITICAL CARE: KEY FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO OR MITIGATE PERFORMANCE OBSTACLES AMONG NURSES

Abstract

Background: The work environment in critical care units presents obstacles that hinder nurses from effectively carrying out patient care tasks, thereby compromising the quality and safety of the care they deliver. The study was conducted with the aim to identify the factors that increase and decrease the performance as obstacles of nurses working in critical care units. Methodology: The study was conducted in the critical care units of tertiary care hospital of KPK, using cross-sectional descriptive design. The study was conducted between May and October 2024, having a sample size of 221 and using convenient sampling technique. A valid and reliable questionnaire of Carayon and Gurses were used for data collection, while SPSS 22 were used for analysis, it was assured to protect the ethical rights of the study participant. Results: The study included 221 nurses, with 53.4% being female and a mean age of 30.5 years. Key factors affecting their performance included involvement in intra-hospital patient transport (81.4%), concerns about the physical work environment (75.1%), poor handoff communication during shift changes or transfers (88.2%), and the need for accessible, well-maintained equipment (83.7%). Participants stressed key factors that could reduce performance obstacles, including clear communication policies (60.2%), a well-organized and functional work environment (74.2%), timely and accurate information from physicians (77.8%), and improved access to patient charts or electronic records to streamline documentation (70.6%). Conclusion: The study revealed that critical care nurses encounter common performance obstacles—primarily related to extra tasks, the physical environment, organizational policies and tools. It is necessary to address these issues through strategies to improve nurses performance.