Exploring the Quality of Care and the Nursing Practice Environment in Saudi Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/qjss.v-iv.24095Keywords:
Nurse Working Environment, Nurses Working Ability, Patient Quality Healthcare, Hospital Management, Nurse Practicing CapacityAbstract
The practice environment significantly influences healthcare quality, particularly in nursing. In Saudi Arabia, the quality of nursing services faces challenges due to a high ratio of expatriate nurses and unique workplace conditions. This study analyzes the Nursing Work Index Scale (NWIS) to evaluate the Practice Environment Scale (PES) and its subscales. Additionally, it explores the relationship between demographic variables and subscale outcomes. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 573 staff nurses in a public hospital (1200-bed capacity) managed by the Ministry of Health. Data was collected in October 2021, with 384 nurses responding. The PES-NWIS was utilized to measure nurses' perceptions of their work environment on a four-point scale. The overall mean score for the PES-NWIS was 2.94 (SD ± 0.753), with all five subscale scores exceeding the midpoint of 2.5. The highest scores were observed for "Nursing Foundations for Quality of Care" (3.02, SD ± 0.753), followed by "Collegial Nurse–Physician Relations" (2.99, SD ± 0.822), and "Nurse Manager Ability, Leadership, and Support" (2.98, SD ± 0.819). The lowest score was for "Staffing and Resource Adequacy" (2.56, SD ± 0.993). A healthy work environment positively impacts nursing outcomes and healthcare quality. Promoting a supportive nursing practice environment benefits patients, nurses, and the broader healthcare team, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in Saudi hospitals.
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