Nurses values, attitudes and behaviour related to falls prevention.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice and Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management and Organizational Behavior
• Evidence-Based Healthcare

Background:

• Nurses often leave the profession due to a perceived lack of control over their work and an inability to deliver valued care.
• A disconnect exists between nurses' espoused values of 'caring' and observed patient safety behaviors, leading to dissatisfaction and disengagement.
• Attitudes and involvement in decision-making significantly influence professional behaviors, highlighting a potential avenue for improving care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of enhanced nurse ownership and decision-making on adherence to falls prevention strategies.
• To investigate changes in nurses' attitudes and work behaviors following practice development initiatives.
• To improve patient safety through optimized nurses' practice behaviors in falls prevention.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study was conducted, incorporating surveys of nurses' attitudes and direct observation of practice behaviors.
• Attitudinal data (self-esteem, professional values, work satisfaction) were collected before and after a practice development intervention.
• Practice behaviors related to falls prevention were measured at intervals throughout the study period.

Main Results:

• While nurses' self-esteem and professional values remained unchanged, their sense of ownership and job satisfaction significantly increased post-intervention.
• Observed practice behaviors demonstrated increased engagement in falls prevention activities by nurses.
• The study led to the development and evaluation of improved methods for risk assessment, communication, and performance monitoring in falls prevention.

Conclusions:

• Directly manipulating nurses' attitudes and values is unnecessary if they are already positive; instead, focus on empowering their decision-making.
• Engaging nurses in work-related decisions fosters greater alignment between their values and actions, leading to improved practice.
• Promoting reflective practice and action is crucial for cultural change, enabling person-centered care and enhancing patient safety in falls prevention.