Nurses’ Knowledge and Perception in the Utilisation of the Nursing Process in Patient Care: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: The Nursing Process is a structured framework consisting of five interrelated steps – assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The application of the Nursing Process helps nurses to provide patient-centered care, ensure patient safety, and quality control in the clinical setting. Despite its importance, the Nursing Process is partially used in many clinical nursing care services. This study assessed nurses’ knowledge and perception of the utilisation of the Nursing Process in patient care. Methods: This was a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study. Fourteen Registered Nurses and Midwives were recruited from a district hospital in northern Ghana. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The study revealed two major themes: nurses’ knowledge of nursing care and the nursing process, and their perception of its use. Findings showed that nurses understood nursing care to be holistic and patient-centered, with admission processes largely guided by patient assessment. While nurses demonstrated awareness of the nursing process, its application was often partial and unconscious. Conclusion: Although participants viewed the Nursing Process as a good concept with a positive impact on patient care, it was largely perceived as an ideal framework for complex cases rather than as a mandatory tool for routine daily practice. The study emphasised the need for ongoing professional development, institutional support, and better resource allocation to promote consistent and effective use of the Nursing Process in clinical practice.