Have you ever heard the term complexity compression? I first learned of this term when reading Preserving a positive image of nursing in a complicated healthcare environment. This article caught my eye because although I had never heard the term, I certainly was familiar with the experience. By definition, complexity compression is "what nurses experience when expected to assume additional, unplanned responsibilities while simultaneously conducting their multiple responsibilities in a condensed time frame." Sound familiar? We’ve all been there - having to perform tasks that take us away from direct patient care and having to do more in less time.

It didn’t take long to find the source of this terminology. In 2007, nurse representatives from the Minnesota Nurses Association and faculty from the University Of Minnesota School Of Nursing sought to validate what nurses were experiencing every day - complex patients and complex systems, both with increasing demands. Through the use of focus groups, the researchers identified six major themes that contribute to complexity compression: personal factors, environmental factors, practice factors, systems and technology factors, administration and management factors, and autonomy/control factors.  You can read the published study in its entirety here: Complexity Compression: Nurses Under Fire. 

What's the biggest factor that contributes to complexity compression during your workday?

Reference: Krichbaum, K., Diemert, C., Jacox, L., Jones, A., Koenig, P., Mueller, C., & Disch, J. (2007). Complexity compression: Nurses under fire. Nursing Forum.