Findings From a Quantitative Approach of Nurses Possibly Related to the Nursing Shortage Before Policy Modification in Macao

The purpose of the present survey was to determine agreement levels among Macao nurses in the public sector on 57 items that could be related to the nursing shortage in Macao. An earlier qualitative inquiry showed that nurses working in the public health sector there had strong concerns about the number of nursing staff. Such a situation might decrease the likelihood of delivering quality care. A quantitative approach was used to assess the degree to which nurses agreed with the 57 items. These questionnaires were sent to each ward in the public hospital and a mental hospital, to six health care centers, and to two health stations affiliated with Taipa health care centre. Of 743 questionnaires distributed, 467 were returned (62.85%). Categories in which there was a preponderance of high levels of agreement were salary and employment benefits, performing non-nursing duties and tasks that require basic skills, continuing nursing education, and patient population. Nurse Managers should have promptly actions to reform those nurses views previously in order to show that frontline nursing staff are supported.