The Ripple Effect of Overburdened Workforces: A Review of Workload and Missed Care in Healthcare Settings

Abstract

Healthcare professionals often face demanding workloads due to the nature of their roles, the complexity of cases, and resource limitations. Workload can be categorized into physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions, each contributing to stress and fatigue among workers. Increased patient demands, coupled with staff shortages, exacerbate the pressure, affecting the ability of professionals to deliver optimal care. Studies indicate that excessive workload significantly impacts decision-making, prioritization, and patient outcomes (Acedo et al., 2020). Furthermore, a robust safety culture (PSC) ensures teamwork and accountability, helping alleviate workload-related challenges by addressing systemic inefficiencies (Eliyana et al., 2020).