Hamadi AA, Aboshaiqah AE, Alanazi NH. Actual Scope of Nursing Practice in Saudi Ministry of Health Hospitals.
Healthcare (Basel) 2024;
12:785. [PMID:
38610207 PMCID:
PMC11011760 DOI:
10.3390/healthcare12070785]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Articulating a clear scope of practice for all nursing categories is essential for improving patient safety, quality of care, and nurse retention. However, this is not the case in many countries, including Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to analyze the actual scope of practice for nursing staff in Saudi Ministry of Health hospitals.
METHODS
The study used a cross-sectional exploratory design. The sampling method used in the study was the quota sampling technique. The scale utilized in this study was the Actual Scope of Practice (ASCOP) scale. Data were collected in March 2021 through an electronic form questionnaire completed by 286 nurses in two hospitals in Al-Hasa province in Saudi Arabia.
RESULTS
The overall mean score for ASCOP was 4.64 out of 6. When participants were grouped according to select characteristics (various nursing staff categories, educational levels, years of experience, nationality, gender, and type of work setting), the results revealed no statistically significant differences in overall ASCOP mean scores, except for gender and nationality.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall mean scores of nursing activities performed in practice do not significantly differ across nurses with different professional categories (health assistant, nursing technician, nursing specialist, and senior nursing specialist), indicating no clear scope of practice for each nursing category, in turn leading to role overlap among them in practice. The current study's findings can guide decision-makers to develop a clear scope of practice for nurses. The findings should also urge the decision-makers to reevaluate the usefulness of having multiple professional categories of nurses who are allowed to carry out almost the same job duties.
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