Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Collegian, cilt.30, sa.2, ss.327-334, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Background: Developments in the field of health care require nurses to have professional autonomy and to fulfil contemporary nursing roles including patient advocacy. Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the levels of professional autonomy and patient advocacy of nurses and to examine the relationship between them. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with nurses working in inpatient clinics of a public hospital (n = 212). The data of the study were collected using a questionnaire consisting of questions to determine the socio-demographic and professional characteristics of nurses, the Nurses’ Attitude Towards Professional Autonomy Scale, and the Patient Advocacy Scale for Nurses. Findings: The mean age of the nurses participating in the study was 29.60 ± 6.72, 92% were females and 71.7% hold a bachelor's degree. The mean score of the Nurses’ Attitude Towards Professional Autonomy Scale was 78.74 ± 8.56, and the total mean score of the Patient Advocacy Scale for Nurses was 165.91 ± 20.31. It was determined that there was a positive and significant correlation between the total mean score of the Nurses’ Attitude Towards Professional Autonomy Scale and the mean score of the Patient Advocacy Scale for Nurses (p < 0.05). It was found that the mean total scores of the Nurses’ Attitude Towards Professional Autonomy Scale of nurses working in intensive care and holding a postgraduate degree were statistically higher (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Nurses' professional autonomy was high, and the practice of patient advocacy roles was above average. As professional autonomy increases, the practice of patient advocacy roles also increases.