Nurses’ Adherence to their Professional Code of Ethics: A Case Study on the Perspective of Patients at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua

Abstract

The study investigates patient’s perspective on Nurses’ adherence to their Professional Codes Ethics in the course of performing their duties, using Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua as a case study. The study also seeks to find out patients’ knowledge on nurses’ professional code of ethics in nursing practice, explore the perceptions of patients on nurse’s adherence to their Professional Code of Ethics in nursing practice and find out how nurses professional code of ethics in nursing practice is monitored at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua. STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional research design was used for the purpose of this study because the data was collected once from the sampled population. The sampling technique employed in the research was convenient sampling. A case study under descriptive design was also used to help give a detailed insight into the issue at hand. The population of the study consists of patients of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua of a total population of 400. Data from the questionnaires administered were coded and analyzed using SPSS software, bar graphs and tables to depict the results obtained from the respondents on the factors as far as the objectives are concerned. RESULTS: The finding revealed that most of the respondents did not have any knowledge about nurses’ professional code of ethics, majority of nurses introduce themselves with name, title and professional role to patients, nurses also produce gentle behavioral and verbal communication towards patients, and on the part of the nurses, ward in-charges are employed to ensure nurses conduct themselves accordingly and deliver quality service to patient through supervisory responsibilities. Recommendation were more efforts should be made by the ministry of health to educate more Ghanaians on the activities of health workers and media promotions especially on television and radio should be giving more credence especially by the health sector and NGOs