The Extent to which Patients Hospitalized in a Certain Region of Turkey are Aware of the Defined Duties of Nurses

Abstract

Objective:   Aim: This study was conducted to determine the extent to which patients hospitalized in a certain region of Turkey are aware of the defined duties of nurses. Material and Methods: The population of this descriptive study consisted of inpatients who were hospitalized in Giresun State Hospital between January-May 2015. The study included 207 patients. The study data were collected using this nursing practices perception form prepared by the investigators. The data were assessed through numeric and percentage analyses. Results: Of the patients who took part in the study, 44.4% were between 59 and 79 years of age. A large majority of the patients responded to the questions asked them regarding nursing practices stating that nurses are engaged in treatments and measure temperature-heart rate-blood pressure (99.5% and 98.1%). 85.4% of the patients stated that they saw care giving as a duty of nurses. Approximately 97.1% of the participating patients stated that they administer first aid treatment in emergency cases and 59.9% that they help patients in exercising. Some 71% of the participating patients said that nurses arrange the diets of patients.  Conclusion: Based on the data obtained from the patients included in the study, it was concluded that a large majority of the inpatients were aware of the defined duties of nurses, but they thought that the practices of other healthcare professionals were also carried out by nurses.