Perception of Patients and Other Health Care Professionals about Nurses at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Modupe O. Oyetunde^1*, Ononaiwu M. Kelechi¹, Mary O. Oyediran²

¹Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
²University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojn.2014.413101                

Abstract

Objective: To explore the perception of patients and other health care professionals about the attitude and behavior of nurses working at the University College Hospital Ibadan Oyo State. Background: Observation has shown that despite the efforts nurses put into carrying out their duties, the acknowledgement of a job well done from co-professionals and patients still leaves much to be desired. Could this be due to impressions formed about nurses? Hence, this study attempts to explore the perception of patients and other health care professionals about nurses. Methods: Two hundred (200) consented respondents were randomly selected for this study. This consists of 165 patients and 35 doctors representing other health care professionals. Data were collected through a pretested questionnaire. Analysis was done by using SPSS version 16.0. Result: Results showed that 68% of patients and 58% of doctors perceived that nurses were competent. About 75% of patients and 54% of doctors agreed that the nurses had adequate skills. Patients (70%) and doctors (49%) agreed that the nurses had a positive attitude towards work. About 74% of patients and 59% of doctors agreed to the fact that the nurses maintained a professional demeanor. Findings also showed that patients rated the nurses higher than the doctors did. A significant difference was found between the perception of patients and doctors about the communication skills of nurses (t = 2.423; df = 198; p = 0.016). Conclusion: The study shows relative satisfaction with the quality of nurse’s work, perceptions of people about their attitudes and behaviors. Nurses could improve on how they relate with other health care providers to achieve positive patient care outcomes.

Keywords

Perception, Nurses, Patients, Health Care Professionals, Nigeria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Current Nursing (2010) Nursing Standards. http://www.currentnursing.com/nursing_management/nursing_standards.html
[2]	Jooste K. (2010) A Framework for Recognition of Prior Learning within a Postgraduate Diploma of Nursing Management in South Africa. Journal of Nursing Management, 18, 704-714. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01160.x/abstract
[3]	Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (2005) History; Origin of Nursing in Nigeria. www.nmcnigeria.org
[4]	Dougherty, L. and Lister, S. (2008) The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. 7th Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
[5]	Gokenbach, V. (2011) Professionalism in Nursing: What Does It Really Mean? www.nursetogether.com
[6]	Williams, L. (2001) Imogene King’s Interacting Systems Theory: Application in Emergency and Rural Nursing. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 12, 102-117. www.rno.org/journal/index.php/online-journal/article/view/93/89
[7]	Alligood, M.R. and Tomey, A. (2002) Nursing Theorists and Their Work. 5th Edition, Mosby Inc., St. Louis. www.us.elsevierhealth.com
[8]	Limjaroen, K. (2012) Perceived Patients’ Rights by Health Care Workers and Patients. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 1, 50-66.
[9]	Schmalenberg, C., Kramer, M., Brewer, B.B., Burke, R., et al. (2008) Clinically Competent Peers and Support for Education: Structures and Practices That Work. Critical Care Nurse, 28, 54-65. http://ccn.aacnjournals.org
[10]	Wysong, P.R. and Driver, E. (2009) Patients’ Perceptions of Nurses’ Skill. Critical Care Nurse, 29, 24-37. http://ccn.aacnjournals.org http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2009241
[11]	Weinberg, D., Miner, D. and Rivlin, L. (2009) “It Depends”: Medical Residents’ Perspectives on Working with Nurses. American Journal of Nursing, 109, 34-43. www.nursingcenter.com http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000357167.63636.98
[12]	Izumi, S., Baggs, J.G. and Knafl, K.A. (2010) Quality Nursing Care for Hospitalized Patients with Advanced Illness: Concept Development. Research in Nursing & Health, 33, 299-315. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nur.20391
[13]	Hamilton, S.J. and Martin, D.J. (2007) A Framework for Effective Communication Skills. Extended Version of Nursing Times, 103, 30-31. www.nursingtimes.net
[14]	Ward, M. (2009) Nursing: The Effects of a Nurse’s Attitude. http://maryward.edublogs.org
[15]	Noe, D. (2010) Why Attitude Is Important in the Work Place. www.helium.com
[16]	Wlodarczyk, D., Tobolska, B., et al. (2011) Professional Image of Nurses as Perceived by Doctors, Patients and Nurses Themselves. Medycyna Pracy, 62, 269-279. www.pubmed.com
[17]	Xaxx, J. (2012) The Significance of Communication in the Nursing Workplace. http://www.ehow.com/info_8180366_significance-communication-nursing-workplace.html#ixzz21y4tVOkJ