Aims and objectives: To explore and compare nurses and patients perceptions of quality nursing care.
Background: It is important to measure both nurses and patients perceptions of quality nursing care. To date, however, no study on nurses' perceptions of quality nursing care has been conducted specifically in the Chinese setting.
Design: Descriptive, comparative study with 221 nurses and 383 patients in 18 non-ICU inpatient nursing units.
Methods: Data were collected using the Perception of Quality Nursing Care Scale.
Results: The results showed that the overall mean score and each category mean score, as perceived by nurses and patients, were high. There was a statistically significant difference between nurses' and patients' perceptions of quality nursing care based on the following categories: staff characteristics, care-related activities and progress of nursing process. However, similarities in perception have also been identified in some categories.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that nurses and patients had differing views of quality nursing care, because they may have had different standards and ways in which they viewed these characteristics of care. Improvements are needed regarding certain aspects of patient information and support for patients' psychological needs.
Relevance to clinical practice: It is a challenge to nurses when taking collaborative action to meet patients' expectations and needs, however, it will move nursing practice in Chinese hospitals forward.