A study to assess the relationship between nurses staffing levels and delivery of quality nursing care at UTH.

Abstract

The study was to assess the relationship between Nurse Staffing levels and the Delivery of Quality Nursing Care at the UTH. Literature review of relevant studies was done which revealed that inadequate nurse staffing levels coupled with irregular medical supplies has compromised quality nursing care. A non experimental descriptive research design was conducted using a standard questionnaire. The study was conducted at the UTH, in Lusaka. UTH is a 1800 plus bed Referral hospital for the entire country. The study was conducted between August and September 1998 using a systematic random sample of 50 nurses form the UTH. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents(92%) worked in understaffed wards which led to compromising the nursing care rendered.