IMPACT OF ELEVATED NURSING WORKLOADS ON QUALITY PATIENT INFORMATION DOCUMENTATION IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WITHIN THE VHEMBE DISTRICT, LIMPOPO PROVINCE
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Background Recording patient information across multiple documents increases the workload and responsibilities of professional nurses during their shifts at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities. Various registers and books are utilized to document patient information for different services, such as antenatal care. However, nurses often forget to record information in some documents, leading to the omission of critical data, which may result in patient mismanagement. Additionally, some documents contain incomplete or inaccurate information. Given that PHC facilities in the Vhembe District operate 24/7 through a call system, nurses are expected to resume duty promptly the next morning, sometimes resulting in tiredness and illegible documentation, which can pose challenges for continuity of care. Objectives: The study aimed to examine and describe the impact of increased nurses’ workload on the quality of patient information documentation at PHC facilities in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. Methods: Conducted in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, the research employed an explorative, descriptive, and contextual design. The population included all nurses working at PHC facilities in the district, with purposive sampling used to select three professional nurses from each facility. Data collection utilized in-depth face-to-face interviews guided by an interview protocol. Results: PHC facilities experienced various challenges due to increased nurses’ workload, resulting in incomplete documentation of patient information. Issues included unavailable patient information, as well as illegible, inaccurate, and incomplete documentation. Conclusion: Effective communication among professional nurses relies on accurate documentation at PHC facilities. Active follow-up and mentorship are crucial to ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation. However, nurses struggle to manage the increased workload associated with documenting patient information across multiple records, highlighting the need for increased staffing to alleviate workload burdens.
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