Knowledge and Performance about Nursing Ethic Codes from Nurses’ and Patients' Perspective in Teaching Hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 2012.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Nursing ethics is provided professional ethics in nursing care. Today, definition of professional ethic code has been done based on human and ethical issues in the communication between nurse and patient. To improve all dimensions of nursing, we need to observe ethical codes. The aim of this study is to assess nurses' knowledge and performance of nursing ethic codes in teaching hospitals of Tabriz from perspective of nurses and patients. Methods: This is a cross –sectional comparative study on 345 nurses and 500 impatient in Tabriz teaching hospitals, Iran. T investigate nurses' knowledge and performance from the perspective of patients and nurses, data were collected by using structures questionnaires based on Iranian Nursing Ethic Codes and finally data were analyzed by using statistical software SPSS version 13 with significance level of 0.05. Results: Most of the nurses were, female, married, educated at BS degree and 86.4T of them were aware of ethic codes also 91.9% of nurses and 41.8% of patients represented nurses respect Ethic codes. Nurses' and patients' perspective about ethic codes differed significantly (p<0.001). Significant relationship was found between nurses' knowledge of the ethic codes and variables such as job satisfaction and history of complaints. There was no significant relationship between nurses' knowledge and performance of ethic codes and variables such as gender, marital status and education of nurses. Conclusion: Due to differences in nurses' and patients' perspective about application of nursing ethic codes, consideration of teaching ethical codes in nursing curriculum for students and continues education for staff is proposed. The observance of nursing ethic codes in education, research, clinical and supervisory dimension will increase the rate of professional nursing progress and will promote patients' rights.