Nurses role, importance and status in Armenia: A mixed method study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Studies
• Healthcare Perception
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Nurses' role perception is shaped by various stakeholders.
• Understanding these perceptions is crucial for professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how nurses and the general public in Armenia perceive the nursing profession.
• To identify factors influencing these perceptions.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed-methods design with qualitative dominance.
• Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews (n=235).
• Cross-sectional telephone survey (n=389).

Main Results:

• Participants perceived nursing as subordinate within the medical hierarchy, not autonomous.
• Empathy and compassion were identified as key qualities of Armenian nurses.
• Qualitative and quantitative findings were consistent.

Conclusions:

• Developing a national definition of nursing is essential to elevate its status.
• Enhanced educational opportunities are needed to improve the profession's image.
• Quality education can foster competent nurse managers to advocate for the profession.