Nurses’ roles in patient care in tertiary level hospitals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Nurses are hands-on caregivers that make major healthcare contributions. The study was aimed to assess nurses’ roles in providing care to the patients admitted in tertiary level hospitals in Bangladesh.

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among the registered nurses, during the period of June 2015 - October 2016 in five tertiary level hospitals located Dhaka, from government and private sectors. Using convenience sampling technique, 225 registered nurses were selected. Data were collected using a pretested structured self-administered questionnaire.

Results: More than 64.0% of the respondents were in the age group of 31- 50 years and only 5.7% belonged to oldest age (51-60 years) group. Ninety one percent respondents were female, 64.0% were Muslim and 81.0% were married. Sixty seven percent were diploma nurses and 89.0% worked as senior staff nurse and 52.0% had working experience between 11-30 years. All the respondents played the role of care provider and administering medication. More than 90.0% of them have played the role of decision maker, communicator and care coordinator. As educator, manager and supervisor 80.0%, 71.0% and 67.0% of the respondents respectively carried out their responsibility. Only 44.0% of the respondents played the role of administrator, and 30.0% played the role as a patient advocator. Ninety nine percent provided bed side care. Documentation, admission, transfer and discharge related activities and patient teaching activities performed by the nurses were found to be respectively 98.0%, 92.0% and 90.0%. Eighty eight percent made round after taking over charge from previous nurse, 81.0% did planning for nursing care and 78.0% communicate and coordinate with others. Only 15.0% respondents were involved in research and 53.0% with policy making. About half of the respondents had no idea regarding evidence based health service practice (EBHSP).

Conclusion: Nurses in tertiary level hospitals carry out their assigned roles and responsibilities quite satisfactorily. However, due to lack of facilities and knowledge they rarely take part in research. Almost half of the respondents did not have idea about evidence based practices. Appropriate policy and strategy needs to be undertaken by the competent authority to involve nurses in research field and policy making issues. Nurses should be trained on evidence based nursing practice.

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2018; 44: 138-144