Nurses' attitudes towards health care assistants

This descriptive study aims to evaluate trained nurses' knowledge base and attitudes towards the introduction of HCAs, as a basis for future programmes of training, and the formulation of policies. The possibility of a relationship between the demographic variables of the subjects and the knowledge base and the attitudes of the nurses is also examined. A questionnaire was sent to trained nurses working in specific ward areas at two hospitals in the Plymouth Health Authority, Devon. The results indicated that heterogeneous nature of the group and illustrated that nurses have a poor knowledge of HCA issues, with more respondents giving incorrect responses than correct ones. However, responses showed generally that attitudes towards the introduction of HCAs were positive.