Abstract:
Background: - Nursing process is considered as appropriate method to explain the nursing
essence, its scientific bases, technologies and humanist assumptions that encourage critical
thinking and creativity, and permits solving problems in professional practice.
Objective: - The general objective of this study is to assess the application of nursing process
and it’s affecting factors in Mekelle Zone Hospitals.
Methods: A cross sectional design employing quantitative and qualitative methods was
conducted in Mekelle zone hospitals March 2011. Qualitative data was collected from14 head
nurses of six hospitals and quantitative was collected from 200 nurses selected by simple random
sampling technique from the six hospitals proportional to their size. Quantitative data were
analyzed by computer using SPSS for windows 16.1 version and thematic analysis was used for
qualitative data. The results of the study were presented in tables, graphs and in themes.
Results: - Out of the 210 questionnaires distributed among the study populations 200 were filled
completely and returned making the response rate 95.2%. Regarding the knowledge status of the
respondents, majority 180 (90%) of the respondents have poor knowledge on the nursing
process. Almost all 99.5% of the respondents have a positive attitude towards the nursing
process. All of the respondents from the six hospitals said that they did not use the nursing
process during provision of care to their patients at the time of the study. Out of the respondents,
25.5% of them reported that allocation of resources for application of nursing process was
adequate. Majority (75%) of the respondent said that the nurse to patient ratio was not optimal
to apply the nursing process.
Conclusion and recommendation: - The nursing process is not yet applied in all of the six
hospitals. The finding also revealed that the knowledge of nurses on the nursing process is not
adequate to put it in to practice. Factors such as shortage of resources and high patient nurse
ratio also affect application of nursing process. The study hospitals should consider the
application of the nursing process seriously; motivate professional nurses to apply the nursing
process; and monitor and evaluate its progress.
