Nurses' Perceptions of Individualized Care for Older Adults in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Role of Ethical Workplace...

Individualized nursing care is a fundamental component of high-quality healthcare, particularly in geriatric populations. However, its consistent implementation remains challenging, a situation further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased workloads and resource constraints. This study aimed to assess nurses' perceptions of individualized care for older adults in Spain and to examine the influence of the workplace ethical climate on these perceptions.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using two validated instruments: the Individualized Care Scale-Nurse version (ICS-Nurse) and the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to assess individualized care, ethical workplace climate, and the associations between both constructs.

A total of 96 nursing professionals participated in the study. Participants reported an overall favorable perception of individualized care. The highest scores were observed in the clinical situation dimension, whereas lower scores were reported for aspects related to hygiene organization and the incorporation of patients' preferences. A moderate, positive, and statistically significant association was observed between ethical workplace climate and individualized care, particularly in dimensions related to patients and physicians. Participants working in hospital settings reported higher recent-experience individualized care scores than those working in nursing homes.

These results highlight the critical role of an ethical workplace climate in supporting nurses' capacity to deliver individualized care. They also underscore the need for targeted strategies to strengthen organizational support, enhance interprofessional collaboration-particularly with physicians-and promote training in individualized care practices. Addressing these factors may facilitate more consistent and comprehensive individualized care, especially in long-term care settings where structural challenges persist.