Nurses’ perceptions of quality assurance

• Aim: To describe nurses’ perceptions of quality assurance. Methods: A qualitative approach using phenomenography was adopted in this study. Data were collected by open and semi-structured interviews from a strategic sample of nurses (N = 10) from a hospital in the south-west of Sweden. Findings: The nurses showed 10 different perceptions of the phenomena, which were summarized into four description categories: controlling, development, cooperation and demands. The perceptions described show that nurses can perceive quality assurance both as an asset and as a burden. Conclusion: The expressed perceptions show that nurses use quality assurance as a way of keeping a certain level of caring. It also gives nurses an opportunity for professional growth as well as a possibility for rewards. Working together as a team, even though there are different staff grades, to find joint standpoints, has a positive effect not only on qualitative assurance but also for the patient, as he/she often meets different categories during hospital stay. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

nurse perspective

perception

phenomenography

quality assurance

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)