Work interruptions and missed nursing care: A necessary evil or an opportunity? The role of nurses’ sense of controllability

AIM: To explore nurses’ experiences with work interruptions (WIs) through the lens of missed nursing care (MNC). DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design. METHODS: Eleven small focus groups involving 34 nurses (three nurses per group on average) from acute‐care hospital wards were conducted. Nurses shared their experiences with WIs (sources, reactions and decisions) from the MNC perspective. Data analysis was conducted via content analysis. RESULTS: A preponderant theme emerged—the dynamic of controllability. Nurses who perceived a sense of controllability felt that they could decide whether to accept or reject the WI, regardless of WI type, and emotions of anger emerged. Conversely, nurses who did not perceive sense of controllability attended the secondary task: MNC occurred, and distress emotions emerged. Results emphasized that nurses are active agents prioritizing whether to omit or complete care in the face of WIs. Controllability, accompanied by active negative emotions, perpetuate a prioritization process that makes it less probable that MNC occurs.