Barriers to intensive care unit nurses' autonomy in Iran: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The intensive care unit (ICU) environment demands frequent urgent clinical decisions by healthcare teams.
• Critical care nurses require authority to make autonomous patient care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceived barriers to professional autonomy for ICU nurses in Iran.
• To understand the perspectives of Iranian ICU nurses regarding their autonomy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 28 critical care nurses.
• Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted.
• Content analysis was used to analyze transcribed interviews.

Main Results:

• Two main themes of barriers were identified: profession-related and organizational.
• Profession-related barriers included lack of capacity and weak professional bodies.
• Organizational barriers encompassed role ambiguity, directive workplaces, and lack of motivation.

Conclusions:

• ICU nurses in Iran encounter significant challenges in achieving professional autonomy.
• Addressing identified barriers is essential for promoting critical thinking, job satisfaction, and motivation.
• Improving nurse autonomy can lead to enhanced patient outcomes.