Effect of Conflict on Nurses’ Perceptions of their Professionalism in Various Healthcare Sectors in Saudi Arabia
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Effect of Conflict on Nurses’ Perceptions of their Professionalism in Various Healthcare Sectors in Saudi Arabia
OLFAT A.M. SALEM, NAZIK M. ZAKARI and NADA I. AL-KHAMIS
Abstract
The organizational structure of many hospitals conflicts with the practice of professional nursing, adversely affecting patient outcomes. The ability of nurses to practice in a profes-sional manner may be influenced by the organizational culture of their work environment and conflict level. This study was designed to explore the nature of the relation between conflict and nurses’ perceptions of their professionalism. This aim was to be achieved through answering the following research questions: 1) What is the conflict level among nurses working in different healthcare sectors? 2) What is the level of perception of professionalism among nurses working in different healthcare sectors? (3) What is the relationship between conflict level and perception of professionalism among these nurses? The study was carried out using an analytic cross-sectional design and was conducted in three different healthcare sectors in Saudi Arabia. These were namely a university hospital, a governmental hospital, and a military hospital. A non-probability convenience sampling was recruited for the study. It consisted of nurse managers in first-line and mid-level positions, as well as bedside nurses. The sample size was calculated to determine any expected level of conflict or professionalism of 35.0% or more, with a 15% standard error and a 95% level of confidence. Out of 420 questionnaire forms distributed, 346 were returned validly completed, with a response rate of 82.4%. Two Instruments were used to collect the data which are 1) perceived conflict scale (Huber, 1996) will be used to assess the conflict level and 2) Valiga concept of nursing scale (Valiga, 1996) will be used to assess the ideas, which the nurse currently holds about nursing as a profession. The study findings point to low perception among studied nurses of their professionalism. Only about one-third of the sample had a high perception of nursing. A number of factors might explain this low level of perception of professionalism. These relate to the workplace itself, as well as the personal background of the nurses, which includes the personal interest in the nursing profession, as well as the family, society and the consumers’ look to the profession.