Predictors of patient outcomes following interactions with nurses.

Abstract

A research and theory-based model was used to identify outcome predictors of hospitalized patients' perceptions of caring and support by nurses. The model tested the effects of cogent personal characteristics of patients (general level of self-esteem and need for control while hospitalized) on their perceptions of humanistic caring and support from nurses and, in turn, considered the effect of these variables on situational appraisal, coping strategies, psychological distress, and coping effectiveness. The 120 hospitalized adult patients indicated that the moderate amount of humanistic caring they received was beneficial. Several factors influenced caring ratings. Higher positive ratings were received from younger patients; however, people with low self-esteem and those desiring more control over their care or reporting a high degree of pain tended to perceive more threat and psychological distress as a results of their encounters with nurses. Following positive caring experiences with nurses, patients with higher self-esteem levels reported effective coping. Overall, positive caring experiences, along with coping strategies and decreased psychological distress levels, explained 40% of the variance of hospitalized patients' ability to cope effectively following their encounters with nurses.