DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Nurses are considered the backbone of hospitals (healthcare institutions) who, despite being ill, provide care for their patients. This phenomenon of working while ill or suffering from a health condition is called presenteeism. This phenomenon negatively impacts nurses causing stress and burnout, a decline in productivity and performance, and ultimately resulting in decreased quality of care.
Methods: To describe presenteeism and its associated factors among nurses, literature was searched using different databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies from the past ten years (2013- 2023) were included that focused on presenteeism and its predictors. After inclusion of the studies, the data were analysed thematically.
Findings: There is a lack of in-depth research on presenteeism among nurses in Pakistan. With a focus on presenteeism, a number of relevant studies were found in the literature. These are described under the sections; (a) prevalence of presenteeism, (b) factors associated with presenteeism, and (c) consequences of presenteeism.
Discussion: This literature review highlighted the need for understanding presenteeism, its associated factors, and the consequences resulting from presenteeism to overcome this phenomenon in order to improve nurses’ health while ultimately increasing their quality of care.
Conclusion: Understanding and addressing the underlying causes of presenteeism in the nursing profession is vital for promoting the overall health condition and productivity of nursing staff while ensuring high-quality patient care as well.