title: Characteristics of the registered nurse and professional beliefs and decision making.
abstract: The study investigated various characteristics of registered nurses to estimate their influence on professional beliefs and decision making. The sample included 133 subjects who were predominantly female and white. The characteristics included age, years of practice, area of practice, level of education, certification, and membership to professional organizations. Results showed that professional beliefs and decision making were significantly related to level of education, membership to professional organizations, and certification. Employment of the analysis of variance showed that critical care nurses had the highest level of professional beliefs and decision making when compared with nurses in other areas of practice. Level of education area of practice, and certification were also predictive of professional beliefs and decision making. These results for the most part indicated that truly professional characteristics were related to professional beliefs and decision making, which reflected positively on the progress of the profession.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Holl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012956:Societies, Nursing