FACTORS INFLUENCING THE UTILIZATION OF THE NURSING PROCESS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The utilization of the nursing process has not been satisfactory in certain areas in Africa, as such the need to identify the factors that influence its utilization in patient care in these setting. This study was aimed at identifying the influence of personal, professional and institutional factors on the utilization of the nursing process in Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design and quota sampling method was used. A total of 125 nurses from three selected hospitals, in Ogun State, Nigeria were used. The data were collected between June and August 2013. A questionnaire was administered to each participant and a correlation coefficient calculated to test hypothesis. The result showed that the personal factors 2 emanating from nurses does not strongly influence the utilization of the nursing process R = 0.012, p = 0.447. It also 2 2 showed that institutional factors R = 0.404, p = 0.000 and professional factors R = 0.410, p = 0.000 influence the use of the nursing process. Recommendations proposed are that the health institutions should consistently review the workload of nurses, provide stationeries, and use information technology to boost the utilization of the nursing process. Nursing authorities are to rise up to the challenge of enforcing the use of the nursing process in the care of patients, and sanctioning defaulting institutions for falling below the minimum standard.