Commentary on the Past, Present, and Future of Nursing Workload Research

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to enhance readers' understanding of research design strategies, past and present, for studying nursing workloads. Future research directions are also discussed. Nursing workloads are associated with nurse burnout and turnover. During our current global nursing shortage, researchers must identify ways to mitigate nurses' heavy workloads. Relevant, prior nursing workload research is presented with brief descriptions of designs, methods and findings. To illustrate the current complexity of nurses' work environments and the myriad factors that influence nurses' workloads, this paper features the ongoing nursing workload research of two Canadian research teams with different methodological approaches. These two teams are employing current research innovations, such as human factors multi-systems frameworks, design thinking, simulation modeling and integrated knowledge translation. With respect to future research implications, the teams are melding methods and tools to promote a more sophisticated way of understanding the complex linkages between patient needs, systems design and the management of nurses' workloads.