The perception of professional nurses on patient centered care

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine how professional nurses perceive their roles in patient centered care in various units, in three regional hospitals in Mpumalanga Province. The main objectives of this study were to determine

* whether the working environment in provincial hospitals is supportive of patient centered care * what factors could hinder the provision of patient centered care * the extent to which patient centered care is provided to patients in provincial hospitals * professional nurses' perception of their role in patient-centered care

The researcher used the descriptive exploratory method. A questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data from professional nurses in the three hospitals. Seventy- two (72) respondents returned the completed questionnaires.

The findings indicated that the professional nurses perceived patients' and nurses' lack of knowledge as the biggest hindrance to patient centered care. Patients and relatives seemed to be less involved in their own care and the lack of information given to patients by professional nurses subsequently contributed to patients' inability to make