title: The opinions of Polish nurses and patients on nursing protests.
abstract: The aim of this study is to explore nurses' and patients' opinions about nurses in Poland going on strike. The study was carried out in Poland between January and June 2009, using 150 nurses and 150 hospitalized patients. The study was conducted using two questionnaire surveys. The main reasons why nursing strikes are organized, in the opinions of nurses, are: higher wages, the improvement of working conditions and the improvement of the image of the nursing profession. The main reasons why nursing strikes are organized, in the opinions of patients, are: higher wages, not abiding standards of employment by government and the improvement of the image of the nursing profession. The main reasons for a lack of active participation in strikes are holidays and occupational and economic matters. Patients and nurses support nursing strikes. Both nurses (53.3%) and patients (42%) said that organizing nursing strikes is right and might improve the occupational situation of nurses.
authors.affiliation: University of Rzeszow, Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical Department, Rzeszow, Poland. monika.binkowska@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binkowska-Bury
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagorska
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Januszewicz
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryzko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D011044:Poland; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013317:Strikes, Employee; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult