Investigating missed nursing care in an Australian acute care hospital: An exploratory study

This thesis is a mixed methods study of missed nursing care in an Australian acute care hospital. It explores the concept so as to further understand and to build a detailed theoretical understanding of the phenomenon. The study identified a range of factors influencing missed nursing care including the number of working hours per week, interruptions, and perceived lack of management support. A conceptual and holistic understanding of the phenomenon using Complexity Theory has been constructed. The thesis recommends incorporating nursing reflective practice into healthcare organisations and informing nursing management about change theories.