Assessing the Determinants of Missed Nursing Care in Selected Hospital of Abuja City in 2025: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nigeria

Background & Aims: Missed nursing care refers to the partial or complete omission of essential patient care by nurses, which can compromise patient safety and outcomes. High-quality nursing care is crucial, yet various factors increase the risk of missed nursing care, particularly in critical care units. Assessing missed nursing care in these units is essential to guide interventions aimed at improving patient safety and nursing care quality. Materials & Methods This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 200 ICU nurses working in two selected hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria from December 2024 to May 2025. The research samples were included in the study in a census sampling method after obtaining the necessary organizational permits, ethical approvals, and informed consent. Data were collected using three questionnaires including Demographic information form and part A and B of MISSCARE questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as independent t-test and ANOVA in SPSS software, version 25. Results The overall mean score for missed nursing care indicated a moderate level (62.17 ± 12.45; 2.59 ± 0.52 on a 1–5 scale). “Intervention-Basic Care” was the most frequently missed subscale (67.6%), while “Patient Assessment” was the least missed (58.2%). Material and labor resources emerged as the most perceived factors contributing to missed care (83.2% and 73.0% respectively). Younger nurses, those with job dissatisfaction, longer working hours, or recent absenteeism reported higher levels of missed care, whereas evening shift nurses and those satisfied with their position and teamwork showed lower omissions (p < 0.05). Conclusion Missed nursing care in Nigerian ICUs is primarily driven by systemic and organizational challenges rather than individual negligence. Addressing resource limitations, optimizing workload, providing mentorship, and fostering teamwork are essential to reduce care omissions, enhance patient safety, and improve the quality of nursing services in critical care settings.