An inquiry into the attitudes of qualified nursing staff towards the use of individualized nursing care plans as a teaching tool.

This paper summarizes a research study inquiring into the attitudes of qualified nursing staff towards the use of individualized nursing care plans as a teaching tool. The survey was conducted in medical and surgical wards used for nurse training, in two hospitals. In common with many hospitals, the introduction of the nursing process into the surgical wards is of more recent origin than the medical areas, so would this be reflected in the attitudes of staff? Results indicated an overall positive attitude of all staff, although significant differences were identified between the grades of staff participating in the study and between the two hospitals. There was no significant difference shown in the comparison of all surgical staff with all medical staff, but the ward sister demonstrated a more positive attitude than staff nurses or enrolled nurses. The length of time care plans had been in use and whether the Open University Programme P553 had been completed, were taken into consideration. Analysis of the individual statements which clustered around the same theme is discussed. Possible factors affecting the attitudes identified are suggested and recommendations which include ongoing educational support, in particular for the enrolled nurse, and exploration of the 'role model' function of the ward sister made. Finally, the method of study is critically examined.