Abstract

*Kao Ma Jijia, Han Su-mei and Sang Ziying

The purpose of this study is to explore patients’ perceptions of quality nursing care. Under the changing health care environment, more emphasis is placed on patient-centered care. To meet patients’ needs and expectations, patients’ perceptions of quality nursing care must be given more concern; thus, 440 patients (purposive sample) in 18 inpatient nursing units in a China hospital were selected. A questionnaire on the perception of quality nursing care scale was distributed to patients to find out the level of quality care perceived by them. Using descriptive statistics to analyze patients’ data, the overall mean score and each category mean score of the quality of nursing care as perceived by patients were at a high level. Patients perceived the highest mean score in the category of progress of the nursing process, while they perceived the lowest in preconditions for care. Also, it was observed that quality nursing care presented a challenge for nursing administrators to develop strategies for improving nursing care in those categories where patients had lower quality nursing care than others, such as psychological support or the nurse’s sense of humor.