Nurses' Attitudes Toward Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Worksite Comparison

Abstract

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have reported being stigmatized when they seek care for pain. Nurse attitudes contribute to stigmatization and may affect patients' response to sickle cell cues, care-seeking, and ultimately patient outcomes. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative design study was to determine whether there are significant differences in nurse attitudes toward patients with SCD by worksite—medical-surgical units compared with emergency departments/intensive care units (ED/ICU). The sample consisted of 77 nurses (36 nurses from the ED/ICU and 41 from medical-surgical units) who completed an anonymous online survey. No significant differences were noted in attitudes by worksite, with nurses from both sites demonstrating high levels of negative attitudes toward patients with SCD. Findings suggest that nurses from both worksites need additional education about SCD and care of this vulnerable, patient population.