PURPOSE. To describe the accuracy of staff nurses' diagnoses or interpretations of the human responses of patients in hospital settings.
METHODS. The sample was 62 staff nurses in three hospitals who assessed and diagnosed the psychosocial problems of one to four patients. Two trained raters followed with assessment, diagnosis, and ratings of nurses' accuracy of 153 cases. A seven‐point interval scale was used to judge accuracy.
FINDINGS. The means of accuracy scores across nurses were significantly different (f = 1.66; p<.05; df = 2,59). A significant percentage of nurses' diagnoses were scored at the two highest levels of accuracy (45.2%), and 12.8% were scored at the three lowest levels of accuracy. According to the expert raters, a high percentage of patients (54.4%) were experiencing fear or anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS. More attention needs to be given to the accuracy of nurses' diagnoses of psychosocial responses.
This study compares the learning needs of patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease who experience angina with ratings by the patients themselves and the nurses who care for them. Also compared are the rankings done on categories of select learning needs with rankings done on categories of actual or intended adherence to prescribed medical regimens, using data obtained from the patients. Samples consisted of 15 telemetry unit nurses, 15 inpatients with angina, and 15 postdischarge patients with angina. All participants responded to the Cardiac Patient Learning Need Inventory and a demographic data sheet. Patients also responded to the Educator Preference Tool and either the Health Intention or Health Behavior Scale. Data analysis indicated that similarities and differences existed between patients and nurses in what they believed is important for patients to learn. Patients expressed a greater preference for physicians, rather than nurses, to teach them cardiac information. The findings indicate that what patients believe is most important to learn, as indicated by select learning needs categories, is related to what they most intend to do or actually adhere to regarding their medical regimen.
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