Are patients' needs during the night being met? : Nurses' and patients' perceptions

Abstract

Night nursing care has a different purpose from that provided during the day as patients have special needs during this time (Meredith, 2000). A descriptive survey research design, using self-administered questionnaires and structured interviews, was undertaken to investigate whether the patients' needs during the night are being met from the perspective of both nurses and patients. The study also sought to identify the sources of disturbances which deter the patients from having a good night sleep and to inquire whether patients are satisfied with the night nursing care received. Convenience sampling was used to recruit fourteen surgical nurses (N = 14) and eighteen surgical patients (N = 18). A 100% response rate was achieved. The data findings revealed that patients identified fewer needs than the nurses. The aspects of nursing care which the patients liked least included 'lack of information' and 'limited opportunity to converse with the nurses'. Results also showed that the three factors which were identified in many various parts of the study as inhibiting factors of night nursing care, were 'shortage of staff', 'staffing levels' and 'workload.' Nevertheless the study revealed that both nurses and patients think that the patients were satisfied with the night nursing care received. However the patients' perceptions were more positive than the nurses' assessments. In fact it was also revealed that patients appreciated the nurses' approach. The patients' level of satisfaction was lower for night rest. This is due to sleep disturbances on the ward, where it was found that 'noise from other patients' was considered as the factor which created most frequently disturbance on the ward and the factor which created difficulty in helping the patients to sleep in hospital by both nurses and patients. The findings of the study are discussed and several recommendations for practice, education and further research are made.