Patient satisfaction: expectations and experiences of nursing care

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to evaluate surgical patient satisfaction with nursing care. A convenience sample of six general surgical patients participated in semi-structured interviews. Satisfaction was evaluated by comparing patient expectations with actual experience of nursing care. Data analysis revealed patient satisfaction with the personal and professional nature of nurses. Participants understood information from nurses and were satisfied with nursing ability. Participants were dissatisfied with minimal nurse contact, lack of personalized care and lack of information about the operation, recuperation and minor treatment options. The challenge for nurses will be to further investigate and address these deficiencies to improve satisfaction with care, thus contributing to better health outcomes.