Why registered nurses do not consistently teach patients and the factors that prevent them from doing so

The purpose of this study was to identify why nurses do not consistently teach patients and the factors that prevent them from doing so. The importance of this research study was to determine or clarify why registered nurses do not consistently teach patients so that factors that prevent them from teaching would be an available resource for hospital administrators and nursing service directors and others holding positions of authority in the acute care facility.

The data was collected from responses to a researcher developed questionnaire which was personally distributed to the Education Directors of 15 of the 18 area hospitals that form the Coordinated Hospital Services group. The nonprofit hospitals are established within a 55 mile radius of Knoxville, Tennessee. The Education Directors distributed the questionnaire to a random sampling of registered nurses employed throughout each hospital by arbitrarily selecting representatives from various clinical units.

The data was analyzed by using the chi-square statistical analysis of the dependent variable questions separated by the three independent variables of hospital bed size, years of practice and educational level attained by the registered nurses. Nine significant chi-square relationships were found.

It was found that registered nurses agree that a patient has a right to instruction and that it is the registered nurses's responsibility to provide the instruction.

Most respondents felt they possessed adequate knowledge and skills to instruct patients. However, lack of time and shortage of nursing staff on the clinical units were the main factors contributing to why nurses do not teach patients.

In conclusion, hospital bed size, years of practice and educational preparation of the nurse influence whether or not the registered nurse will consistently teach patients.