Επαγγελματική αυτονομία νοσηλευτών στις μονάδες εντατικής θεραπείας

Abstract

Introduction: Autonomous nursing practice is a multifaceted concept and it is defined as the nurse’s ability to exercise their professional functions with sovereign manner consistent with the legal, ethical and professional standards of the profession. The clinical decision-making is vital to the role of professional nurse. It is a desirable feature and directly related to job satisfaction. In the Intensive Care Unit where the severity of hospitalized cases and the complexity of the equipment complicate decision-making, the ability of nurses to take immediate decisions and act on them is crucial for the outcome treatment of the patient. Purpose: The purpose of this critical literature review was to investigate the degree of autonomy of nurses working in Intensive Care Units, while exploring and describing the factors associated with autonomy, clinical decision-making and perceptions of nurses about this issue. Material and Methods: The method used was the review of the Greek and international literature in databases such as, CINAHL, MEDLINE, COCHRANE and GOOGLE SCHOLAR, using as keywords: professional autonomy, autonomous nursing practice, critical care nursing and decision-making. Results: The literature review revealed that the ICU nurses have moderate autonomy variations across countries. This is due to a variety of factors such as organizational factors, gender equality, educational training, extensive working experience and professional relationships that affect the level of autonomy of nurses. The nurses want an autonomous practice in the workplace in view of the fact that it provides them job satisfaction and cooperation at their work place. Conclusions: The nurse is able to think and to act autonomously and with professionalism, achieving and contributing significantly to meeting the needs of patients and providing quality health care, particularly in environments such as Intensive Care Units. The need for more autonomous nursing practice appears more compelling than ever.