Attitudes of Nursing Personnel Employed in Inpatient Healthcare Units (Hospitals) Towards Patient’s Rights

Abstract

Introduction. Patient’s rights and the extent to which they are respected by medical personnel are the foundation of a properly functioning healthcare system and serve as signifiers of the quality of service of a medical facility.

Aim. The aim of the study was the interpretation of the level of knowledge and attitudes exhibited by the nursing personnel employed in hospitals in the areas of rights possessed by the patients.

Material and Methods. The study was conducted in the period between May of 2022 and 2023. There were 179 participating nurses, 72% of which were female and 28% male. Within the participant sample, 30% had secondary education (medical high school or medical vocational school), 80% had higher professional education (Bachelor’s degree) and 24% obtained a master’s degree. The mean age was 40 years old (min. 24, max. 64, SD=9), and the mean work experience was 15 years (min. 1, max. 44, SD=10, median=13). The research used methods such as a diagnostic survey, voluntary, anonymous survey research and a self-developed questionnaire consisting of 17 questions.

Results. 64% of the nurses rated their knowledge of patient’s rights as satisfactory, and 36% as unsatisfactory. 93% of the participants knew of the right to health services and 91% of the nurses were familiar with the right to information. 72% familiarized themselves with the Act on the Patient’s Rights and the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman, while 66% stated that they witnessed a violation of patient’s rights in their workplace.

Conclusions. According to more than 1/3 of the participants, the knowledge regarding patient’s rights was unsatisfactory, therefore it is imperative to develop and implement a training system for the nursing personnel in this area. The role of the nursing personnel in providing information about the rights patients possess is insufficient, therefore the personnel should be enabled to gain knowledge, skills and competencies in this area. Almost 2/3 of the respondents witnessed a violation of patient rights, therefore the respecting of patient’s rights by medical staff should be monitored and individuals who do not comply with regulations should be held accountable. (JNNN 2025;14(2):76–85)