• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.781-792
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• 2001

Professional nurse Autonomy is an essential attribute of a discipline striving for full professional status. Purpose: This study was to clarify the concept of professional nurse autonomy to provide basic data needed for development of professional autonomy enhancing strategies. Method: This study use the process of Walker & Avante's concept analysis based on Wade's research (1999), and field data of 21 nurses. Results: Professional nurse autonomy is defined as competency and creative performance of the professional nurse in practice, to decide independently or interdependently nursing activities and to be had accountable for results of decisions, that reflect advocacy and caring. It was identified that critical attributes include responsible discretionary decision making, collegial interdependence, initiative, creativity, and caring, advocacy, cooperative relationship with clients, receptive capacity to others, activeness, self confidence, and devotion and responsibility to their profession. Antecedents include personal characteristics, educational background, experience and structural characteristics that enhance professional nurse autonomy. Consequences of professional nurse autonomy are feelings of self-efficacy, empowerment, job satisfaction, reduction of intention to leave their job. Conclusion: According to these results, it is recommended that the curriculum provides an environment for learning professional nurse autonomy, and that is used as basic data to develope strategies to enhance professional autonomy of nurse in practice and it's effects

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.437-445
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim in this study was to identify head nurses' nursing performance according to their managerial competencies and professional nurse autonomy. Methods: From January 15 to January 31, 2013 a survey was distributed to 200 head nurses working in 5 tertiary hospitals in B city and J city. The response rate was 80% (160 responses). The survey content included the Managerial Competencies Scale (MCS), Schutzenhofer professional nurse autonomy Scale (SPNA), and Nursing Performance Scale (SPNA). Results: The score for MCS was 4.53, for SPNA, 177.05, and for SPNA, 4.62. Nursing performance was related to managerial competencies (${\beta}=0.741$; p<.001; SE=0.059) and professional autonomy (${\beta}=0.135$; p=.010; SE=0.001). These factors accounted for 64.8~67.3% of the variability in nursing performance. Conclusion: Results indicate that head nurses' performance would be improved through increased nursing managerial competencies and expansion of professional autonomy suggesting a need to develop work systems designed to achieve high managerial competency and professional autonomy in head nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.301-318
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• 1997

This study was done to identify the professional autonomy of clinical nurses perceived by staff nurses and doctors. The subjects consisted of 410 nurses and 219 doctors who are working at 4 general hospital in Daegu and Pusan. The nurses were surveyed by means of July 7 to September 27, 1997. The results are as follows : 1. The score which the nurses perceived clinical nurses' professional autonomy is 159.05 points. This score means mid level of professinal autonomy. 2. The score which the doctors perceived clinical nurses' professional autonomy is 140.37 points. This score means mid level of professinal autonomy. 3. The extent of the perceived clinical nurses' professional autonomy between two groups was remarkably high in the nurses group(P=.000) 4. The relationship between general characteristics and the perception of professional autonomy by nurses showed a significant difference in regard to the age, the marital status, educatioal level, the period of nursing career and the state of position. The score of professional autonomy by age was highest 41 years old or more, while the lowest was for 26-30 years old(P=.008). The score of professional autonomy of a married nurse was higher than an unmarried(P=.003). The score of professional autonomy by the period of nursing career was highest 9 years or more, the lowest was for 3-6 years(P=.009), Also, the higher the educational level(P=.000) and the state of position(P=.049), the higher the score of professional autonomy. But there were no statistically significant difference in regard to the religion and the field of work. 5. The relationship between general characteristics and the perception of professional autonomy by doctors showed no statistically significant difference.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.324-340
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• 1998

Nurses experience role conflict between nursing theory that they learned in school and clinical nursing practice. This conflict lead to lower self-image, self-esteem, job dissatisfaction. Also, the professionalism of nurses is estimatable by the grade of autonomy. The professional autonomy requires individual and professional obligation about her decision and performance. A lack of professional autonomy results in the Job dissatisfaction. Job dissatisfaction leads to absenteeism, increased proneness to mental and physical illness and higher turnover rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate professional autonomy and self-concept of clinical nurses. Data were collected from 262 clinical nurses in P city from June 1 to June 30, 1996. The instruments used for this study were made by Arthur(1990) and Schutzenhofer(1983). The data were analyzed for frequency and percetage, mean, SD, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, stepwise mutiple regression, using SAS $PC^+$ Program. The findings were as it follows : 1. The mean of professional autonomy and self-concept were $152{\pm}18.48,\;70.65{\pm}8.20$(2.62), respectively. These showed mid level of professional autonomy and self-concept. 2. Professional autonomy of clinical nurses was found to vary significantly according to total years of clinical experience(F=4.49 p<0.01), position(F=3.49 p<0.05), and state under study for the degree(F=3.83 p<0.05). Professional self-concept was found to vary significantly according to age(F=3.52 p<0.05), marital status(F=7.39 p<0.001), total years of clinical experience(F=3.59 p<0.05), position(F= 5.22 p<0.01), the expectant period being on the duty as clinical nurse(F=8.34 p<0.001), and motivation of choosing nursing(F=5.17 p<0.001). 3. The statistical relationship between clinical nurses' professional autonomy and self-concept was found as positive correlation(r=0.42246 p<0.001). 4. Professional autonomy was the highest factor predicting professional self-concept(17.85%). Professional autonomy and marital status accounted for 20.60% in professional self-concept of clinical nurses. In conclusion, Professional autonomy and self-concept of clinical nurses showed significantly positive relationship. Therefore, nursing education needs to develop programs and policies to increase professional autonomy and self-concept of clinical nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between professional self-concept, professional autonomy, self-esteem, and job satisfaction of clinical nurses. Method: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 289 clinical nurses who worked in one of 4 hospitals located in B City. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: There were significant differences in job satisfaction according to marital status, current position, shift pattern, and average income. There was a significant positive correlation between professional self-concept and professional autonomy, self-esteem and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction showed a significant positive correlation with professional autonomy and self-esteem. The significant factors influencing job satisfaction were professional self-concept, self-esteem and professional autonomy, which explained 29.5% of the variance in job satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the important role-related variables of professional self-concept, self-esteem and professional autonomy of clinical nurses are significantly related, and that as, professional self-concept is an important factor for job satisfaction of clinical nurses, strategies to increase professional self-concept need to be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between level of professional autonomy and clinical decision making abilities in clinical nurses, and to provide basic information for promoting competency nurses in making independent decisions. Method: Data were collected from July 1 to July 18, 2008, and participants were 202 clinical nurses in general hospitals. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency and percentage and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS WIN 14.0 program. Results: The professional autonomy index for the nurses was 159.63 points. The clinical decision making ability index was 119.79 points. The most highly ranked factor in clinical decision making was search for information and unbiased assimilation of new information. There was a statistically significant difference in professional autonomy according to age, clinical experience, and type of duty. Relation between level of professional autonomy and clinical decision making showed a positive correlation. Conclusion: As a results show a significant correlation between professional autonomy and clinical decision making in clinical nurses, improvement in professional autonomy of clinical nurses, would be promoted through continuous support and training.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to explore professional autonomy, nursing work environment, and clinical decision making ability and to determine predictors of clinical decision making ability among clinical nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study and 263 clinical nurses were selected from advanced-level hospitals with over 500 beds located in D metropolitan city. Independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were done with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: Clinical nurses reported moderate levels of professional autonomy, nursing work environment and clinical decision making ability. Marital status, professional autonomy and nursing work environment accounted for 25% of variance in clinical decision making ability required in various clinical settings. Importantly, being married, higher level of professional autonomy, and greater satisfaction with work environment were significantly associated with better decision making ability. Conclusion: Findings indicate that improving the quality of decision making in the healthcare settings requires awareness of the multiple effects of individual, occupational and environmental features. Nurses' ability to make effective clinical decisions may rely on personal characteristics, the degree of autonomy in their job, and nurses' satisfaction with their work environment.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.533-541
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify variables influencing task performance of wound ostomy continence nurses (WOCN). Methods: Data were collected from 80 WOCN in Korea from September to October 2011 using a self-reported questionnaire. Variables consisted of task performance, empowerment, professional autonomy, job satisfaction and job-related variables. Data were analyzed by frequencies, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Professional autonomy was a major predictor of task performance of WOCN (F=37.37, p=<.001). Empowerment(F=33.10, p=.001) and completion of the professional education course for wound ostomy continence nursing WOCN(F=7.46, p=.008) were the other significant predictors of task performance. The regression model explained 45.3% of task performance. Conclusion: Professional autonomy, empowerment and completion of the professional education course contribute to task performance of WOCN. These findings have important implications for organizations hoping to achieve the maximum potential of WOCN's professional role. Therefore, strategies for reinforcement of professional autonomy, empowerment, and completion of professional education course are necessary for WOCN working in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of professional autonomy, organizational commitment, and perceived patient safety culture on patient safety management activities of nurses in medium and small-sized hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. Self-reported questionnaires were completed by 121 nurses with at least 3 months of working experience in medium and small-sized hospitals located in B city. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a t-test, a one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and a multiple regression analysis. Results: Professional autonomy (r=.22, p=.016), organizational commitment (r=.34, p<.001), and perceived patient safety culture (r=.55, p<.001) had a statistically significant positive correlation with patient safety management activities. The factors that might affect patient safety management activities were professional autonomy (${\beta}=.23$, p=.003) and perceived patient safety culture (${\beta}=.55$, p<.001). The explanatory power of these factors for patient safety management activities was 33.5% (F=21.19, p<.001). Conclusions: The development of repetitive and continuous education programs is needed to improve a nurse's professional autonomy and perceived patient safety culture.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 2000

This study is to grope for a plan to increase nurse's autonomy by grasping autonomy degree according to nursing delivery system. The subject of this study are 265 nurses who work for 4 general hospitals in Seoul, and 73 of them work in primary nursing delivery system, 99 of them in team nursing delivery system and 93 of them in functional nursing delivery system. Data collection was done through questionaires from Sep. 1, 1997 to Sep. 30, 1997, and autonomy was measured by Professional Nursing Autonomy Scale developed by Schutzonhofer. Data analysis as inspected with $X^2$ test, ANOVA, and t-test, using SPSS program. The results are as follows : 1. When it comes to the autonomy of all the nurses, mean score was 161.99. Which is medium level, and autonomy degree according to nursing delivery system had no significant differences. 2. There was a significant difference in autonomy degree according to inservice education among the subject's work-related characteristics, and there was no significant difference in autonomy distribution in each grade according to general characteristics although older group, married group, and junior college graduates group showed rather higher trends. 3. Considering each item, questions related to direct nursing such as "Vital sign monitoring", "Nursing rounding", "Withhold contraindicated drug", showed high score in autonomy scores, and long-term and indirect nursing behaviors such as "Nursing administration", "Nursing research", "Follow-up care" and "Educational planning".