Abstract
The work environment of intensive care nurses may have substantial impact on both nursing outcomes and patient safety. Performance obstacles are the factors that hinder intensive care nurses' capacity to perform their jobs and that are associated closely with their immediate work environment. Aim: To identify the performance obstacles experienced by critical care nurses in their work environment that covers all elements of the work system model. Subject and methods: An exploratory, descriptive design was utilized. The sample included all available nurses (n=60). Data was collected by using questionnaire performance obstacles. It was conducted in Damanhur teaching hospital in Damanhur city in 2 critical care units. Results: indicated that nurses experience in critical care units a wide variety of performance obstacles that cover all elements of the work system model. Conclusion: Performance obstacles represent the following elements of the work system: environment (6 obstacles), organization (7 obstacles), technologies or tools (4 obstacles), and task (4 obstacles). [Lamiaa Ismail Keshk; Shereen Ahmed Qalawa and Azza Anwar Aly. Performance Obstacles Experiences Among Critical Care Nurses in Damanhur Teaching Hospital. Life Sci J 2012;9(2):1044-1054] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 155