This study investigated the relationships between seven workload factors and patient and nurse outcomes. (1) Background: Health systems researchers are beginning to address nurses’ workload demands at different unit, job and task levels; and the types of administrative interventions needed for specific workload demands. (2) Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study of 472 acute care nurses from British Columbia, Canada. The workload factors included nurse reports of unit-level RN staffing levels and patient acuity and patient dependency; job-level nurse perceptions of heavy workloads, nursing tasks left undone and compromised standards; and task-level interruptions to work flow. Patient outcomes were nurse-reported frequencies of medication errors, patient falls and urinary tract infections; and nurse outcomes were emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. (3) Results: Job-level perceptions of heavy workloads and task-level interruptions had significant direct effects on patient and nurse outcomes. Tasks left undone mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse and patient outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse and patient outcomes. Compromised professional nursing standards mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Administrators should work collaboratively with nurses to identify work environment strategies that ameliorate workload demands at different levels.

Among health workers, nurses are at the greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure and mortality due to their workplace conditions, including shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), insufficient staffing, and inadequate safety precautions. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 workplace conditions on nurses’ mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. An electronic survey was emailed to nurses in one Canadian province between June and July of 2020. A total of 3676 responses were included in this study. We found concerning prevalence rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (47%), anxiety (38%), depression (41%), and high emotional exhaustion (60%). Negative ratings of workplace relations, organizational support, organizational preparedness, workplace safety, and access to supplies and resources were associated with higher scores on all of the adverse mental health outcomes included in this study. Better workplace policies and practices are urgently required to prevent and mitigate nurses’ suboptimal work conditions, given their concerning mental health self-reports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To examine the relationships between workload factors at different systems levels (unit level, job level and task level), patients/family complaints and nurse reports of patient violence towards them using a human factors framework.Design: This is a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data.Methods: Data from 528 nurses working in medical–surgical settings in British Columbia, Canada, were analysed. At the unit‐level workload factors included patient‐RN ratios, patient acuity and dependency; at the job‐level perceptions of heavy workload, undone nursing tasks and compromised professional standards due to workload; and at the task‐level interruptions to workflow.Results: Workload factors at multiple levels were directly related to workplace violence. Nurses' increased reports of compromised standards (job level) and interruptions (task level) were related to increased reports of physical and emotional violence, and higher patient acuity (unit level) was related to increased reports of emotional violence. Patient/family complaints mediated the relationship between almost all the workload factors and workplace violence.

Aim: The study's aim was to examine how workplace incivility and workload influence nurses' work attitudes (turnover intention, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment) using the stress–strain–outcome framework.Background: There is a lack of comprehensive research on the combined effects of workplace incivility and workload on nurses' work attitudes.Introduction: Two workplace stressors, incivility and workload, were hypothesized to lead to burnout, which in turn influences nurses’ work attitudes.Methods: A cross‐sectional, descriptive correlational study was conducted. Survey data were collected from 1,255 direct care nurses with a minimum of 6 months’ nursing experiences in 34 general hospitals across Korea. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. This study is reported using the STROBE checklist.Results: As hypothesized, both workplace incivility and workload increased burnout. Heightened burnout correlated with increased turnover intention, lowered job satisfaction, and reduced organizational commitment. While workplace incivility impacted these outcomes both directly and indirectly via its effect on burnout, workload influenced the outcomes solely through burnout.Conclusion: The study's findings are based on one, nonrandomized sample of nurses working at South Korean hospitals. Despite such study limitations, the study findings support the adverse impact of two workplace stressors on burnout and nurses’ work attitudes.Implications for nursing: Evidence‐informed interventions for both workplace stressors include training programs, clear policy guidelines, open communication channels, and supportive work environments.Implications for nursing and health policy: Zero tolerance and equity, diversity and inclusivity policies to promote workplace civility must be enforced. Workload needs to be patient‐centered, ensuring a “fit” between patient needs and nurse staffing.

Workplace violence in healthcare settings is on the rise, particularly against nurses. Most healthcare violence research is in acute care settings. The purpose of this paper is to present descriptive findings on the prevalence of types and sources of workplace violence among nurses in different roles (i.e., direct care, leader, educator), specialties, care sectors (i.e., acute, community, long-term care) and geographic contexts (i.e., urban, suburban, rural) within the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. This is a province-wide survey study using a cross-sectional descriptive, correlational design. An electronic survey was emailed by the provincial union to members across the province in Fall 2019. A total of 4462 responses were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square statistics. The most common types of workplace violence were emotional abuse, threats of assault and physical assault for all nursing roles and contexts. Findings were similar to previous BC research from two decades ago except for two to ten times higher proportions of all types of violence, including verbal and physical sexual assault. Patients were the most common source of violence towards nurses. Nurses should be involved in developing workplace violence interventions that are tailored to work environment contexts and populations.