Relationship between work productivity and patient safety attitudes among intensive and critical care nurses: A structural equation modelling approach.

Background: Intensive care units present various challenges that can affect the productivity of nurses who play a critical role in ensuring patient safety; however, the relationship between these nurses' work productivity and patient safety attitudes has not been sufficiently explored.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between work productivity and patient safety attitudes among intensive and critical care nurses (ICCNs) using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Study design: This cross-sectional study involved 372 ICCNs who were members of the Turkish Society of Critical Care Nurses. Data were collected via an online survey using the Nurse Information Form, the Attitudes Toward Productivity Scale (ATPS) and the Patient Safety Attitude Questionnaire (PSAQ).

Results: A significant positive correlation was found between the total ATPS and the PSAQ score (r = .704, p < .01). The SEM analysis revealed that teamwork climate (β = .192, p = .001), perceptions of management (β = .141, p = .001) and job satisfaction (β = .482, p = .001) positively predicted attitudes towards productivity, while stress recognition had a negative impact (β = -.219, p = .001). The model accounted for 62.2% of the variance in attitudes towards productivity and demonstrated good fit indices (χ²/df = 3.566; GFI = 0.989; CFI = 0.991; RMSEA = 0.078).

Conclusions: Teamwork climate, perceptions of management, job satisfaction and stress recognition significantly influence work productivity among ICCNs. Enhancing these factors can improve ICCNs' productivity and foster positive patient safety attitudes, ultimately leading to better patient care outcomes in intensive care settings.

Relevance to clinical practice: Health care institutions need to adopt strategies to increase ICCNs' work productivity and patient safety attitudes, such as teamwork support initiatives, leadership development programmes for managers, professional development opportunities and stress reduction interventions. Positive working environment and favourable working conditions can improve ICCNs' well-being and performance, leading to better patient care outcomes in intensive care settings.