Date of Award
Fall 2012
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Patricia Hart
Second Advisor
Dr. Kathie Aduddell
Abstract
Purpose: To examine the relationships between caring attitudes and PFCC beliefs of critical care nurses and family members’ perceptions of PFCC.
Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional research design was used.
Methods: One hundred and six critical care registered nurses and 76 critical care family members were recruited from a healthcare organization located in the southeastern United States. Data collection occurred from October 2012 to November 2012.
Results: Nurses reported a high level of caring efficacy and moderately high beliefs about PFCC principles. Family members reported a moderate level of PFCC needs being met. No statistically significant relationships were found between nurses’ caring attitudes and PFCC beliefs or between critical care nursing units’ caring attitudes and family members’ perceptions of PFCC. In addition, nurses’ age, race/ethnicity, years licensed, years in critical care nursing, highest nursing degree, and certification were not found to be predictors of nurses’ caring attitudes and PFCC beliefs.
Conclusion: Nurses perceived themselves as highly caring and providing PFCC. However, there is an obvious incongruence between nurses’ perceptions and family members’ realities. It is the responsibility of the nursing profession to bridge the gap that exists to ensure that nurses provide care in a way that is safe, caring, and respectful.