Barriers to Independent Nursing Action in Patient Care Among Nurses of a Private Hospital in Santiago City
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study, conducted from May to June 2025, aimed to identify the extent to which full-time nurses in selected private hospitals in Santiago City engage in independent nursing actions and to identify the barriers that hinder their independent nursing action in patient care. Independent nursing practices such as health education, patient assessment, wound care, hygiene maintenance, dietary recommendations, emergency interventions, and emotional support were examined. Using a cross-sectional design, the study surveyed 140 full-time nurses from Hospital A and Hospital B through a researcher-made, validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.877). The findings show that nurses consistently practice independent nursing action well across all categories, with emergency interventions (M = 3.73 and M=3.72) and wound care (M = 3.79 and M=3.66) as the most well-practiced. However, barriers to independent nursing action were often encountered, particularly organizational and structural challenges such as time constraints, lack of managerial support, and resource limitations (M = 2.66 and M=2.59). While professional development barriers were also frequently reported (M = 2.59 and M=2.48), interpersonal and collaborative obstacles were less common (M = 2.43). Statistical tests indicated no significant differences in the extent of independent nursing actions when grouped by age, sex, educational attainment, years of experience, or area of assignment (p > 0.05). The study findings suggest the need for institutional support, more training, and policy reforms to enable nurses to work independently, which can lead to improved patient outcomes, higher job satisfaction, and a more empowered nursing workforce. These results can guide nursing administrators, educators, policymakers, and future researchers seeking to strengthen the role of nurses as independent and critical decision-makers in healthcare.
Language: English
Topic: Nursing Roles and Practices
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203633579