THE NURSE'S ROLE AS PATIENT EDUCATOR.
Contributors: Kansas State University.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 153
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the nurse's role as patient educator. Nurses were surveyed for their opinions of the extent of nurses' responsibility for patient education and their level of achievement of patient education.

Three nurse groups were studied (a) nurses in practice, (b) nurse administrators, and (c) nurse educators. A stratified random sample of nurses from 22 states were surveyed. The questionnaire used in this study was developed by the researcher. The instrument was in four parts (a) opinions regarding the extent of nurses' responsibility for patient education, (b) opinions regarding achievement of specific patient education activities, (c) general questions regarding patient education, and (d) demographic data. Analysis of variance and correlations were the major statistical procedures used to analyze and present the nurses' responses.

The findings indicated that all nurse groups shared the expectations of the nurse's role as patient educator. The mean ratings of nurses in practice were significantly lower than nurse administrators and nurse educators; however, the overall ratings were high. For the achievement of patient education, the mean ratings were below the mid-range. Significant findings were not found among the nurse groups. The respondents believed they were meeting patient education needs below the satisfactory level. When investigating the ratings for the achievement in three specific areas of patient education, significant differences were found. The nurses believed all three areas of patient education were being met below the satisfactory level. Preparing patients for receiving care rated highest, preparing patients for discharge was next highest, and documentation of patient education was lowest. Based on the findings, the satisfactory achievement of patient education is needed for the nurse's role as patient educator to become firmly established. Recommendations were made to strengthen the role of the nurse as patient educator.

It is apparent from the literature and from the findings of this study that research is needed in many areas of patient education. Therefore, recommendations for future research were proposed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-08, Section: B, page: 2263.

Thesis (PH.D.)--KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0100.