Nurses' attitudes toward dimensions of nursing practice

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' attitudes toward nursing behaviors. The research question was: What is the relative importance that nurses attribute to certain dimensions of nursing behaviors? In order to answer this question, an attitudinal instrument was developed and administered to a sample of 196 female nurses whose names were obtained from the deans and directors of the nine NLN schools in Connecticut. Five a priori constructs were used as a basis for validation in the instrument development--the utilization of a unique body of knowledge and skills; the utilization of the nursing process; research ability; leadership ability; and teaching, prevention, and maintenance. Objectives, which were obtained from each of the nine schools in Connecticut, as well as from the NLN, constituted the items in the measuring instrument. Factor analysis of the instrument yielded seven factors, accounting for 63.1 percent of the total variance. Three of these factors were the same factors as those identified in the a priori analysis. The results of this study contribute toward a better understanding of nurses' perceptions of the importance of several identified components of the nursing role.