Altruism and Missed Nursing Care Among Intensive Care Nurses: A Descriptive Correlational Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to assess the relationship between altruism and the level of missed nursing care among nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Design: The study was descriptive and correlational. Methods: This study was conducted between 15 January and 15 June 2025 with 210 ICU nurses working in two public hospitals. Data were collected using the “Nurse Demographic Information Form”, the “Altruism Scale” and the “Missed Nursing Care Survey (MISSCARE)”. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Independent Student's t test, One-Way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The nurses' mean age was 29.30 ± 5.23 years, with 72.4% being female and 80.0% holding a bachelor's degree. It was found that 78.6% of the participants experienced delays in providing patient care due to material shortages and high workload, while 97.1% reported delivering care with an altruistic approach. A significant, moderate, and negative correlation was identified between the altruism scale and the amount of missed nursing care (MISSCARE A) (r = −0.389, p < 0.001). Patient or Public Contribution: A higher level of altruism among ICU nurses appears to contribute to a lower incidence of missed nursing care. The correlation between missed nursing care and altruism underscores the importance of altruistic attitudes in patient care. However, the high significance of the reasons for missed nursing care highlights issues related to working conditions in ICU settings. To enable altruistic nurses to provide high-quality care without disruptions, healthcare policies should prioritize improving working conditions, adjusting staffing levels, and addressing medical supply shortages.