Presenteeism in Nursing: A reflection on the implications for health and the contribution of clinical governance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/shp2025403Keywords:
Nursing, Presenteeism, Clinical GovernanceAbstract
Introduction: the phenomenon of going to work sick is common in professions with high social and interpersonal demands. The prevalence of presenteeism has increased in nursing, leading to a deterioration in nurses' health, a decrease in the quality of care provided, and an increased risk for patients. The objective was to analyze the increase in presenteeism among nurses, its impact on the quality of care and the role of clinical governance.
Method: database research and critical analysis of selected articles.
Results: the prevalence of presenteeism in nursing varies between 30% and 94%, making it the most affected professional category among healthcare professionals. The consequences include compromising the physical and mental health of professionals, decreased productivity, decreased quality of care, and increased adverse events. Factors such as a sense of responsibility, scarce human resources, and unhealthy work environments contribute to this phenomenon. Clinical governance, by promoting a culture of safety and well-being, can minimize presenteeism.
Conclusion: clinical governance can reduce the impact of presenteeism by implementing strategies such as promoting self-care, psychological support, professional development, participatory management and resource optimization, thereby ensuring the sustainability of care and the safety of users.
References
1. Johns G. Presenteeism in the workplace: A review and research agenda. J Organ Behav. 2010;31:519–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.630
2. Zhang X, Wei N, Li M, Li L, Lv X, Zhang Y, et al. Sickness presenteeism, job burnout, social support, and health-related productivity loss among nurses in the Chinese nurses’ health cohort study (TARGET): A cross-sectional survey. Int J Nurs Stud. 2025;162:104962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104962
3. Mohammad MM, Nayeri ND, Varaei S, Rasti A. The nurse without a nurse: The antecedents of presenteeism in nursing. BMC Nurs. 2021;20(1):143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00669-1
4. Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD, Johnson PO, Johnson LA, Satele D, West CP. A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses. BMC Nurs. 2019;18(1):57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-019-0382-7
5. Hung SP, Ming JL, Tsao LI, Jeng C. A preliminary qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of presenteeism among Taiwanese nursing staff. J Nurs Adm. 2024;54(12):E40–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001515
6. Brborović H, Daka Q, Dakaj K, Brborović O. Antecedents and associations of sickness presenteeism and sickness absenteeism in nurses: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Pract. 2017;23(6):e12598. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12598
7. Santos I, Sá E. Estratégias de governação clínica. Rev Port Clin Geral. 2010;26:606–12.
8. Dalla V, Asimakopoulou E, Skitsou A, Charalambous G. Association of clinical governance with the quality of professional life and care provided. Nurs Care Res. 2023;0:54–67 [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372076067
9. Ferreira MT, Ramalho S, Silva T, Oliveira F, Gonçalves R, Araújo N. Impact of clinical governance in nursing: A literature systematics review. Rev Millenium. 2025 May 9;2(27):e40383 [cited 2025 Jun 10]. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/millenium/article/view/40383
10. Li YX, Guo BM, Wang YC, Lv XY, Li R, Guan XY, et al. Serial-multiple mediation of job burnout and fatigue in the relationship between sickness presenteeism and productivity loss in nurses: A multicenter cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2022;9:812737. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.812737
11. Song J, Liu F, Li X, Qu Z, Zhang R, Yao J. The effect of emotional labor on presenteeism of Chinese nurses in tertiary-level hospitals: The mediating role of job burnout. Front Public Health. 2021;9:733458. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.733458
12. Gerlach M, Hahn S, Rossier C, Geese F, Hamers J, Backhaus R. Presenteeism among nurses: An integrative review. Int J Nurs Stud Adv. 2024;7:100261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100261
13. Rainbow JG, Gilbreath B, Steege LM. Risky business: A mediated model of antecedents and consequences of presenteeism in nursing. Nurs Res. 2021;70(2):85–94. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000484
14. Pereira F, Querido A, Verloo H, Bieri M, Laranjeira C. Consequences of nurse presenteeism in Switzerland and Portugal and strategies to minimize it: A qualitative study. Healthcare. 2022;10(10):1871. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101871
15. Brás RJ. Os desafios da governação clínica nos cuidados de saúde primários em Portugal. Rev Port Med Geral Fam. 2025;41(2):178–84. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i2.14033
16. Shan G, Wang S, Wang W, Guo S, Li Y. Presenteeism in nurses: Prevalence, consequences, and causes from the perspectives of nurses and chief nurses. Front Psychiatry. 2021;11:584040. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.584040
17. Shan G, Wang W, Wang S, Zhang Y, Li Y. Cross-level effects of health-promoting leadership on nurse presenteeism: The mediation and moderation effect of workload and performance pressure. Curr Psychol. 2023;42(19):12322–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02591-w
18. Chapman L. Inspiring nurse leaders: Optimizing the working lives of nurses in Canada. Nurs Leadersh (Tor Ont). 2024;37(1):14–20. https://doi.org/10.12927/cjnl.2024.27359
19. Guerra M, Jesus É, Araújo B. Liderança e participação do enfermeiro na governação hospitalar: impacto na qualidade e segurança dos cuidados prestados – protocolo de scoping review. Gest Desenv. 2021;(29):423–38 [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://revistas.ucp.pt/index.php/gestaoedesenvolvimento/article/view/10211
20. World Health Organization. Global patient safety action plan 2021–2030: Towards eliminating avoidable harm in health care [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 May 30]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240032705
21. Direção-Geral da Saúde. Plano Nacional para a Segurança dos Doentes 2021–2026 [Internet]. Lisboa: DGS; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://www.dgs.pt/documentos-e-publicacoes/plano-nacional-para-a-seguranca-dos-doentes-2021-2026.aspx
22. Sousa L, Mestre R, Tomás J, Severino S, Guerra N, José H. Strategies for preventing presenteeism in nursing. Manag (Montevideo). 2025;3:147. https://doi.org/10.62486/agma2025147.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Vaz, Maria Vermelho , Miriam Silva , Pedro Costa, Sónia Dinis , Sandy Severino , Luís Sousa (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
