Quality of Nurse's Performance and Patients' Satisfaction in Cardiac Care Units

Abstract

Background: Nurses legally and ethically have the responsibility for patients care and care quality. Patients, in turn, have the right of getting a favorable and high-quality care. The first step in planning programs for nursing care quality improvement, is reviewing its current quality level. This study was, therefore, conducted to survey nurses’ performance quality and patients’ satisfaction in hospital cardiac care units. Materials and Methods: An explanatory cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 28 nurses and 70 patients from four Cardiac care units (CCU, PCCU) at two public hospitals in Arak (Iran). Data were collected via a survey using nursing care quality checklists and patients satisfaction questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken to identify the quality of nurses’ performance and patient’s contentment. Results: Chi square and t-paired tests did not show any significant relationship between nurse's demographic data and quality of nursing care and patient satisfaction. Also, results showed that quality of nurse's performance was poor, intermediate, and good at rates of 28%, 64% and 8% respectively. Of which quality of educational and therapeutic performances were strongest and weakest of all respectively. Also, the majority of patients (71.42%) had relative satisfaction from presented nursing cares. Discussion: The results of a high-quality nursing care to patients have positive effects on patients, care givers and nursing profession itself. Nurses as the biggest group in the health care team, have a major role in care quality improvements and patients’ satisfaction; therefore, it is necessary to take some actions to help them enhance their performances.