Relationship Between Professional Attitudes of Nurses and Their Attitudes Toward Change

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The factors which influence professional attitudes and organizational change ideally ensure the quality of efficient patient care. This study aimed to determine the relationships between nurses' professional attitudes and their attitudes toward change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational research design. A total of 376 nurses working in four state hospitals in North Cyprus were interviewed between June and July, 2016. Data were collected using a Socio-demographic Form, the Attitudes toward Change Scale (ATCS) and the Inventory of Professional Attitude at Occupation. RESULTS: The professional attitudes of the participant nurses were relatively high (135.82 +/- 21.31), whereas their attitudes toward change were moderate (59.0 +/- 9.95); there was a positive relationship between professional attitudes and attitudes toward change among the nurses. The problem areas of nurses regarding change are change outcomes and management style of change. Scale scores were higher for those nurses who had higher professional positions, were members of professional organizations, contributed to institutional change, followed developments in health sciences and the nursing literature, were able to use computers and were more open-minded to change (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A positive correlation was found between the nurses' professional attitudes and their attitudes toward change. The nurses had a high degree of professionalism and did not show any reaction toward change. The positive impact of nurses' professional attitudes on the change process should be considered in order to determine the resistance points and conduct programs to facilitate necessary changes. Nurses should be informed about the reasons, processes, and outcomes of changes.