ABSTRACT
Healthcare is a fundamental human need, requiring expertise from various health-related disciplines. Nursing plays a vital role in delivering healthcare. This study investigates the perception of nursing care quality among nurses at a Benin City healthcare institution in Nigeria. We employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design, recruiting 239 nurses from different units using random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The null hypothesis, suggesting no significant relationship between nurses' socio-demographic status and their perception of nursing care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, was tested using chi-square. The findings indicated that only years of service (p=0.011) significantly influenced perceptions, with less experienced nurses having more positive views. Age (0.365), education (0.223), sex (0.930), and position (0.333) had no significant impact. The results revealed that 66% of nurses had an overall positive perception of nursing care quality. The highest-ranked aspects were patient safety protocols (mean 3.1), support services (mean 3.0), upholding patient rights (mean 3.0), and teamwork (mean 2.9), with a collective grand mean of 2.8. However, only 40% agreed that staffing was adequate (mean 2.5). Most nurses (66%) reported high job satisfaction, with the top satisfiers being the availability of equipment/supplies (mean 2.8), infrastructure (mean 2.8), and professional development (mean 2.7), leading to a strong overall satisfaction (grand mean of 2.8). Nurses also overwhelmingly agreed (mean 1.7) that hospital strategies, such as administration support and performance appraisals, effectively promoted nursing care. In conclusion, respondents displayed a positive perception along with a high level of job satisfaction. The researcher therefore recommends continued support for the nursing process, prioritizing its implementation through the provision of necessary resources, training, and regular evaluations to ensure adherence.
