PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of nurses' caring behaviors and to identify the factors influencing of nurses' caring behaviors.
METHODS
The participants were 404 nurses who were caring the chronically sick elderly in five H university hospitals. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires on the importance of caring behaviors, nursing professional value and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 16.0.
RESULTS
The average score for importance of nurses' caring behaviors was 3.38 and the 'professional knowledge and skill' factor was the highest level. The mean score of nursing professional value was 7.53 and job satisfaction, 3.18. Importance of nurses' caring behaviors had a significant positive correlation with nursing professional value, job satisfaction, nurse's age and work experience among demographic variables. Two significant variables influencing importance of nurses' caring behaviors were nursing professional value and job satisfaction. But characteristics of nurses did not influence.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study indicate that importance of nurses' caring behaviors can be improved by intervening factors affecting this importance. Based on the findings of this study, further nursing practice and nursing research for nurses caring the sick elderly should be focused on their nursing professional value and job satisfaction.
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