Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42063585›Full record

ArticleThe journal of climate change and health

Nurse leaders' perspective on heat-related challenges and work-organizational interventions in inpatient care settings in Germany: A qualitative descriptive study.

Maria Zink, Franziska Jung, Steffi G Riedel-Heller, Katharina M A Gabriel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of climate change and health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Maria ZinkFederal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dresden, Germany.
Franziska JungUniversity of Leipzig, Institute for Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig, Germany.
Steffi G Riedel-HellerUniversity of Leipzig, Institute for Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig, Germany.
Katharina M A GabrielFederal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In Germany, rising heat-related mortality and hospital admissions are posing significant challenges to healthcare systems. Nurses working in inpatient care facilities are particularly vulnerable because of heat stress. Objective: This qualitative descriptive study explores the impact of heat waves on nurses and their work environment in inpatient care facilities. It examines existing interventions to mitigate heat stress and identify areas for improvement. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with nurse leaders from inpatient care facilities, including hospitals and long-term care facilities in Saxony, Germany. Methods: Forty-eight nurse leaders from varied roles and facilities were interviewed (September 2022-June 2023). Qualitative analysis identified key themes around heat stress, impacts, and adaptations. Results: The majority of hospital nurse leaders and all long-term care facility nurse leaders reported significant challenges because of high outdoor temperatures. Heat stress negatively affects nurses' physical health, cognitive function, and overall work performance while also impacting patient care and medication management. Facilities reported implementing 38 different interventions, with organizational and personal-level adaptations being more common than technical interventions. However, adaptation efforts remain fragmented. Conclusion: The study highlights the urgent need for structured heat adaptation in inpatient care, providing rationale for healthcare institutions to prioritize protections for nurses, patients, and residents amid rising temperatures. Future research should assess the effectiveness of current interventions, identify new solutions, and explore systemic barriers to successful implementation. To inform future policy and practice, the findings underscore the importance of formalizing heat action plans and integrating climate resilience into institutional strategies across the healthcare sector.

Indexed as

Disaster planningExtreme heat eventHealth services administrationHeat waveHospitalLong-term careNursing staffOrganizational learningPatient careWorking conditions

Identifiers

PMID42063585
PMCPMC13127614

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.