Assessing nurse's attitudes toward clinical environment

Work environment is an inseparable element of nursing profession which should be considers in order developing the nursing profession.

This study investigated Iranian nurses’ attitude toward nurses’ clinical environments and its features.

In this cross sectional study with simple random sampling method, 1500 nurses from twenty states of Iran in 2009 received researcher-developed questionnaires which included demographic variables and clinical environment features. The validity of instrument accessed via content validity and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) was (α=0.81). Samples (1500 nurse) selected randomly and one thousand one hundred sixty (1160) questionnaires were returned (response rate 77%) which could be used for statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics using SPSS14.

Findings showed that in clinical care area more than half of nurses had knew to importance of interdisciplinary communication (61%), autonomous decision making in nursing care (57%) and practice based on ethical values and professional relationships (60%). In description of clinical environment the majority of nurses stated that they consult with colleagues about care problems (85%) and they believed that they provide care based on patients’ needs and care provided are in order to new findings in nursing (80%). %). In nurse’ point of view communicating with nursing students and taking care about them was less important (37%).

Work environment issues and challenges are cornerstones for patients care promotion. These findings could be use to rebuild a work environment by health policy makers that supports nurses in providing comprehensive professional care.