title: Decision area and occupational independence of nurses in ambulatory health care. II.
abstract: Contrary to family nurses, practice nurses employed in outpatient departments did not change their scope of duties very much compared to the period prior to the reform of health care. The study presented the current and expected scope of tasks, with the consideration of the area of independent decision making in ambulatory health care. The dependent variable was the scope of nursing practice, which was analysed by means of the following indicators: the scope of duties realized, scope of independence at work, scope of responsibility, possibilities of occupational development and making decisions concerning the methods of work, the competence to make decisions. The study covered a group of 90 nurses employed in public and non-public health care units in Białystok and its area, and was conducted with the use of a questionnaire form. It was observed that practice nurses expected changes with respect to competence, and consequently increased responsibility and adjustment of tasks according to their qualifications. Nurses from public units had less favourable conditions for widening their decision area. The analysis of the study material showed that the regular scope of duties and responsibility in one third of nurses in both groups did not cover occupational competence. In order to independently plan and make decisions, nurses must be trained and improve their knowledge. In the opinion of 80% of respondents from public units and 60% of those employed in non-public units, nurses do not have sufficient possibilities for post-graduate education according to the needs.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Department of Management in Nursing Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ksykiewicz-Dorota
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szczurak
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D017009:Professional Autonomy