A cross‐sectional study of the relationship between missed nursing care and conscientious intelligence in hospital nurses

AbstractAimTo examine the relationship between missed nursing care and conscientious intelligence.BackgroundMissed nursing care is a globally common patient safety issue that threatens quality nursing care. Current studies mainly focus on the relationship between missed nursing care and external factors such as nurse, unit and hospital characteristics. However, internal factors, such as the conscientious intelligence of nurses, are also very important for missed nursing care. Moreover, the relationship between missed nursing care and conscientious intelligence has not been examined so far. This study will contribute to filling this gap in the literature.MethodsThis is a descriptive correlational study. The study sample consisted of 514 nurses working in a city in the southeastern region of Türkiye, reached by convenience sampling method. Study data were collected between 30 January and 30 June 2021. Descriptive statistics, difference statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed.ResultsNurses missed nursing care at an occasional level (1.66 ± 0.63), and their conscientious intelligence score was high (131.26 ± 19.24). Conscientious intelligence alone accounted for 10.6% of the variance in missed nursing care. As nurses’ conscientious intelligence levels increase, the level of missed nursing care decreases. Gender, education level, satisfaction with being a nurse and patient‐to‐nurse ratios had a statistically significant effect on missed nursing care scores.ConclusionMissed nursing care decreased as nurses’ conscientious intelligence increased. Although nurses need to be knowledgeable and competent in caregiving, it is also necessary to consider their conscientious intelligence in patient care.Implications for nursing and health policyOrganizations and nurse managers could improve nursing care by implementing strategies to increase nurses’ conscientious intelligence. For this, they would need to encourage nurses to receive training on sensitivity, awareness, ethical decision‐making and ethical sensitivity. Moreover, nurse managers should be role models and leaders in compliance with personal and professional values and ethical standards to improve nursing care.