Purpose: This study seeks to identify situations where nurses are required to consider alternatives, for the delivery of nursing care, appropriate to the needs of a medical care unit, surgical care unit, and intensive care unit in a university hospital.
Method: Data was collected from 100 nurses using an open questionnaire, during a one week period in May, 2003. These nurses all had at least two years of experience within a medical care unit, surgical care unit, or intensive care unit at a university hospital.
Results: The situations that nurses typically faced were categorized into 21 problems for nurses including : respiratory problems(26.8%), pain(23.6%), problems in relation to bowel habit(23.2%). In cases where nurses were faced with making decisions in relation to solving respiratory problems, the alternatives included ; applying oxygen(29.3%), physical assessment and monitoring(14.7%), refining and modifying order and suggestion order(9.3%). Ventilator care(9.3%), was chosen to solve pain problems ; doing pm orders(30.3%), placebo medication(27.3%), and to refine and modify orders and suggestions(18.2%). To solve problems in relation to bowel habits ; enemas accounted for 32.3%, and laxative medication 30.8%.
Conclusion: To improve the quality of nursing, the outcome of nursing care associated with 21 problems for nurses including : respiratory problems, pain, and problems in relation to bowel habit, should be identified and the best alternative nursing care should be developed.
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