Effects of Selected Organizational Climate Factors on Nursing Performance and Patient Satisfaction in Renal Dialysis Units in West Bank Hospitals

Abstract

The effectiveness of an organizational climate is one of many essential requirements for many health care institutions all over the world to be succeeded.  Aim: This study aimed to assess the selected organizational climate factors (motivation, social interpersonal relations and leadership style) that affect nurse’s performance and patient’s satisfaction in dialysis units in West Bank Hospitals. Methods: This study was a descriptive purposeful study. It described the relations between organizational climate and nursing performance and the effectiveness of this performance on patient’s satisfaction in  renal dialysis units in West Bank governmental hospitals.

The study sample consisted of 69 nurses who work in 10 dialysis units in West Bank Hospitals and 198 renal patients.

Data collection was through 2 questionnaires, one for nurses which consistd of  2 sections; the first one consistd of socio-demographic variables (Nurse’s age, gender, years of experience, academic degree and work place) and the second one consistd of 3 domains and 23 statements to identify the organizational climate factors affecting nursing performance in dialysis units in West Bank Hospitals, these domains were: leadership style with six statements, social interpersonal relations with six statements and motivations with eleven statements. In addition, there were 15 statemements to investigate the nursing performance.

The second questionnaire was for the patients which consisted of  2 sections; the first one consisted of socio-demographic and health conditions of patients attending to dialysis units, the second section consistd of patient’s satisfaction with 3 domains (leadership style with six statements, social interpersonal relations with 4 statements and motivation with 7 statements).

Results and Recommendations: Nursing performance in dialysis units was with moderate response (69.3%) for many reasons; there was significant shortage in nursing staff in dialysis units in 10 West Bank Hospitals, insufficient time for doing all nursing procedures, lack of breaks during shift period,  lack of knowledge and skills about dialysis equipments and tools (59.4%) of nurses hold Diploma Degree (2 years), and there were no administrative punishment or reward system for evaluation of  nursing performance in dialysis units, so that it is recommended to inform policy makers in Palestinian ministry of health to stand on this significant problem and to increase the skillful staff members as quick as possible and to hold training and educational sessions in that regard.

Patient satisfaction was with moderate response (73.3%) for many reasons; inflexible working hours,  lack the Renal specialist, social workers specialist and diet specialist, and insufficient using of developed dialysis machines, tools, signs and educational plates in all dialysis units in West Bank Hospitals. So that, it is recommended to increase the specialist staff members and to develop the awareness of nursing staff with the proper using of machines in these units.

Motivation factor was with moderate response (54.5%) because of low salary in comparing with effort, no equal opportunities between staff members in term of motivation, training sessions and scholarships, insufficient working vacations, no transportation and risk allowance, and administration dose not encourage the relation between nursing staff, so that it is recommended to pay attention for nurses by improving motivation system (Training sessions, scholarship). Female (58%) nursing staff was more than male (42%) nursing staff in dialysis units which affect the nursing performance and the nature of work (vacations, opportunities and Work load).