What is the study about?
The BC Nurses’ Workload Study is being conducted by researchers at the UBC School of Nursing in partnership with the BC Nurses’ Union.
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of workload on the delivery of safe and quality patient care as well as the physical, emotional & mental health of nurses. It consists of an online survey of RNs, LPNs, and RPNs working in hospitals, long-term care nursing homes and community-based healthcare facilities across British Columbia. Results of the study will be used to develop nursing and care delivery policy recommendations.
Background
Nurses’ workloads are known to influence nurse and patient outcomes. Most workload studies look at one particular aspect of workload, such as staffing adequacy and ‘churn’ (i.e., numbers of patient admissions, discharges and transfers). No workload measure exists that assesses all the evidence-based factors that are known to influence nurse and patient outcomes. In addition, there are few studies that have studied nurses’ workload in relation to other work environment factors (e.g., nursing staff mix, types of care delivery models in use, communications among disciplines).
What are we asking you to do?
We are asking you to answer an online survey. You were chosen as a prospective participant in the study because you are working either as an RN, LPN or RPN in British Columbia. Your participation is entirely voluntary and you can withdraw from the study at any time. The survey asks about your workplace environment, workload, job satisfaction, perceptions of patient safety & patient quality of care, and basic demographic questions. You will able to complete the questionnaire in 20 minutes.
Incentive
In appreciation for your time, you will have the chance to win a mini-IPad (maximum $500) or one of five $100 gift cards in an end-of-survey raffle draw. At the end of the online survey, you will be directed to an electronic raffle form and asked to provide your name and contact information. Personal information entered into the raffle form will not be linked in any way to your completed survey, and will be deleted completely by September 30, 2014. You have the option not to join the raffle draw.
How will we protect your privacy and confidentiality of survey data?
All information you provide will be kept confidential, in strict accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) of British Columbia.
The online survey is being conducted using FluidSurveys, a Canadian survey company which is compliant with Canadian privacy (all data resides on Canadian servers) and accessibility standards (W3C). Survey data will be transferred and encrypted in password-protected computers at the Workload Study office at the UBC School of Nursing.
Should you choose to fill up the electronic raffle form, your personal information will be collected under the authority of Section 26 (D) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) for the purpose of identifying the winners in the raffle draw only. Questions about the collection of this information may be directed to khristine.carino (at)ubc.ca.
What are the risks and benefit of taking part in the study?
There are no known risks from participating in this study. You will not directly benefit from participating in this study, however, aggregate results from the survey will be used develop a final report with policy recommendations related to BC nurses’ workloads.
Contact Information
For more information about the study, please contact Dr. Maura MacPhee: (phone) 604-822-2891, (email) maura.macphee (at)nursing.ubc.ca; or Dr. Khristine Carino: at (phone) 604-827-3632, (email) khristine.carino (at)ubc.ca.
If you have any concerns or complaints about your rights as a research participant and/or your experiences while participating in this study, contact the Research Participant Complaint Line in the UBC Office of Research Services at 604-822-8598 or if long distance e-mail RSIL@ors.ubc.ca or call toll free 1-877-822-8598 (Toll Free: 1-877-822-8598).