Nursing Workflow Optimization Plan for Improving Efficiency and Staff Well-Being in Inpatient Settings

Abstract

Nursing workflow efficiency and staff well-being were critical factors in ensuring safe and effective inpatient care delivery. However, nurses in hospital settings frequently faced heavy workloads, disorganized processes, and staffing shortages, which compromised both patient outcomes and nurse job satisfaction. This study examined the relationships among demographic characteristics, perceived workload, and workflow efficiency of nurses in inpatient units to develop a structured workflow optimization plan. Guided by the Maslach Burnout Theory and utilizing a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design, the research was conducted at Al Salama Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sample of 51 nurses completed a validated, self-structured questionnaire that measured nurses’ demographics, workload perceptions, and workflow efficiency. Findings revealed that nurses reported a very high level of perceived workload, characterized by emotional exhaustion, chronic fatigue, and increased stress, while also rating workflow efficiency as generally high, particularly in task completion and documentation processes. Statistical analysis revealed significant relationships between years of experience, shift schedules, and nurse-to-patient ratios with workload perceptions, and between years of experience and shift schedules with workflow efficiency. These results highlighted the need for targeted interventions addressing workload distribution, staffing ratios, and scheduling systems to improve nurse well-being and care quality. Based on these findings, a Nursing Workflow Optimization Plan: NURSE OPT was proposed, integrating Lean Management strategies and the Job Demands-Resources model to streamline processes, reduce staff overload, and foster a supportive work environment. The plan provided a framework for healthcare institutions to enhance efficiency, safeguard patient safety, and strengthen nurse resilience.