Determinants of patient care: nursing process or nursing attitudes?

Nurses are increasingly striving to be recognized as independent professionals and often use the nursing process as evidence that they have their own area of expert knowledge. The nursing process is, in theory at least, an effective framework on which to base nursing care. However, there are a number of studies which indicate that nursing care is influenced to a significant degree by the attitudes of nursing staff. If nursing is to attain the status of an independent profession it must identify, and if possible, rectify the factors that influence nursing attitudes.