- Project number: F 2521
- Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
- Status: Completed Project
Description:
Outpatient care is becoming increasingly important in an ageing society. Many people want to remain in their familiar surroundings despite needing care and require professional support. However, good care requires good working conditions. The project investigated the stress and strain situation of outpatient nurses and provides scientific findings for improving their working conditions
A large-scale online survey and interview studies with outpatient nurses, numerous workshops with occupational health and safety and care experts and shift observations in care services were carried out.
High demands - time pressure, emotional stress caused by suffering and dying as well as physically demanding activities - make work more difficult and impair the health of nurses. Frequent lone working also reduces social interaction. Many employees complain of back pain and headaches, exhaustion and psychological com-plaints.
There is an urgent need for action by care services, politicians and researchers. Managers can improve the work situation by promoting social exchange opportunities and giving their team support, e. g. in the event of incidents of violence. Supportive structures such as supervision and the preservation of recovery times (e. g. through stand-in pools) are essential in order to avoid overwork.
At a political level, a reform of the billing and benefits system is recommended, for example through time-based remuneration models, in order to ensure high-quality care. Such an approach would help to avoid the currently widespread, fragmented and task-oriented care that contradicts the professional ethical principles of nurses.
Finally, home-care nursing should receive more attention in research, particularly the evaluation of interventions for occupational safety and health promotion would be beneficial.
