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Summary
Nurses acknowledge their role in patient financial advocacy but lack formal training and cost awareness. Despite controlling significant prescription spending, their knowledge of dispensary costs remains low, hindering effective cost-saving practices.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Healthcare Economics
- Patient Advocacy
Context:
- Rising healthcare expenditures necessitate cost-conscious practices.
- Financial advocacy for patients is not a widespread nursing responsibility.
- Nurses manage a substantial portion of prescription account utilization.
Purpose:
- To explore registered nurses' perceptions of financial advocacy for patients.
- To assess nurses' knowledge of healthcare costs, specifically dispensary stock.
- To understand the role of nurses in managing patient healthcare expenses.
Summary:
- A descriptive study surveyed 32 registered nurses in high-care/intensive care units.
- Nurses recognized their responsibility for cost containment (94%) but had limited formal education (12.5%).
- While 60% of informed nurses practiced financial advocacy, cost knowledge was minimal (9%).
Impact:
- Highlights a gap in nursing education regarding healthcare financial advocacy.
- Suggests a need for improved cost awareness among nurses to optimize resource utilization.
- Underscores the potential for nurses to play a more active role in reducing patient healthcare costs.