Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20310
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: “It's about how we do it, not if we do it”. Nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute care hospitals : a descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Mantovan, Franco
Muzzana, Chiara
Schubert, Maria
Ausserhofer, Dietmar
et. al: No
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688
10.21256/zhaw-20310
Published in: International Journal of Nursing Studies
Volume(Issue): 109
Issue: 103688
Issue Date: 2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Elsevier
ISSN: 0020-7489
1873-491X
Language: English
Subjects: Health care rationing; Unfinished care; Implicit rationing of nursing care; Quality assurance; Health care; Hospital administration; Nursing; Qualitative research
Subject (DDC): 610.73: Nursing
Abstract: Background: The phenomenon of unfinished nursing care is gaining increasing interest among nursing researchers. While survey studies on the underlying concepts, e.g., implicit rationing of nursing care, revealed frequencies, antecedents and consequences, little is known about how nurses experience care rationing in clinical practice. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute-care hospitals. Design: We conducted a qualitative study using interpretive description methodology. Methods: Using a convenience sample of 31 frontline nurses (i.e., registered nurses, nurse assistants) and 19 ward nurse managers from acute care units in seven hospitals in [Blinded], eight semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim and analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Our findings indicate three interconnected themes: (a) maintaining stability within complexity; (b) applying strategies to limit rationing; and (c) nursing care between ideal and reality. According to study participants, implicit rationing of nursing care results when nurses cannot otherwise maintain stability for their patients and their units. Nurses reported several strategies, including postponing tasks or reducing quality, to prevent or limit rationing. Rationing accentuates the gap between ideal nursing care and day-to-day practice. Conclusions: In absence of guidelines on implicit rationing of nursing care nurses rely on intuitive and situational processes of decision-making and priority setting. Technical activities addressing patients’ instability receive higher priority than relational ones. As quality may be an earlier casualty of implicit rationing than quantity, it challenges us to broaden the current focus of how care rationing manifests. In addition to encouraging open discourse on implicit and non-transparent rationing at all organizational levels, this qualitative study provides new insights that will inform the development and implementation of interventions to support nurses’ priority setting and ultimately to limit rationing of nursing care.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/20310
Fulltext version: Accepted version
License (according to publishing contract): Licence according to publishing contract
Restricted until: 2021-06-17
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit: Institute of Nursing (IPF)
Published as part of the ZHAW project: Rationing – Missed Nursing care: An international and multidimensional problem
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Mantovan, F., Muzzana, C., Schubert, M., & Ausserhofer, D. (2020). “It’s about how we do it, not if we do it”. Nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute care hospitals : a descriptive qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 109(103688). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688
Mantovan, F. et al. (2020) ‘“It’s about how we do it, not if we do it”. Nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute care hospitals : a descriptive qualitative study’, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 109(103688). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688.
F. Mantovan, C. Muzzana, M. Schubert, and D. Ausserhofer, ““It’s about how we do it, not if we do it”. Nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute care hospitals : a descriptive qualitative study,” International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 109, no. 103688, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688.
MANTOVAN, Franco, Chiara MUZZANA, Maria SCHUBERT und Dietmar AUSSERHOFER, 2020. “It’s about how we do it, not if we do it”. Nurses’ experiences with implicit rationing of nursing care in acute care hospitals : a descriptive qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2020. Bd. 109, Nr. 103688. DOI 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688
Mantovan, Franco, Chiara Muzzana, Maria Schubert, and Dietmar Ausserhofer. 2020. ““It’s About How We Do It, Not If We Do It”. Nurses’ Experiences with Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care in Acute Care Hospitals : A Descriptive Qualitative Study.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 109 (103688). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688.
Mantovan, Franco, et al. ““It’s About How We Do It, Not If We Do It”. Nurses’ Experiences with Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care in Acute Care Hospitals : A Descriptive Qualitative Study.” International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 109, no. 103688, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103688.


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