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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2008

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Barbara Hobbs

Keywords

nurse attitudes, nursing satisfaction, nursing performance

Abstract

This study explored South Dakota (SD) Nurse Administrators' (NAd)/Nurse Managers' (NM) attitudes about Nurse-To-Patient (NTP) ratios, the nurse shortage, job satisfaction, and patient care. Awareness of these important issues can benefit the nursing profession with additional knowledge and enhance patient care delivery in the midst of a nursing shortage. There is an increasing body of evidence showing that higher NTP ratios are related to decrease patient morbidity/mortality and higher job satisfaction. A newly developed, Likert-type survey was mailed to a convenience sample of 128 SD NAds/NMs; 49 completed the survey. The data showed that over half of SDNAds/NMs favored NTP ratios; however, there were mixed opinions on the value of ratios and the effect ratios may have on the nursing shortage, job satisfaction, retention, and patient care. These mixed results suggest that there is a need to educate NAds/NMs about ratios.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Nurse adminsitrators -- South Dakota
Nurses -- Job Satisfaction
Nurses -- Supply and demand
Nursing -- Psychological aspects
Nurse and patient

Description

Includes bibliographical references (page 59-62)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

79

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 2008 Shelly Erdahl-Wynia

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