Effects of Empathy and Attitude in Caring for Elders by Nurses in Geriatric Nursing Practice in Long term Care Hospitals
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing geriatric nursing practice in nurses working in long term care hospitals. Methods: The participants were 194 nurses working at 12 long term care hospitals in B and G city. Data were collected from July 6 to August 8, 2016. SPSS/WIN 18.0 was used for analysis with t test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: There was a significant correlation between geriatric nursing practice and empathy for the elders (r=.52, p<.001) and attitude toward caring for the elders (r=.33, p<.001) The factors influencing geriatric nursing practice in participants were empathy for the elders (b=.48, p<.001) and marital status (b=.19, p=.003) These factors contributed 29.1% of the total variance in geriatric nursing practice. Conclusion: Based on the results, educational programs to improve empathic ability for elders by nurses should be developed and implemented to improve geriatric nursing practice of nurses in long term care hospitals. Also it is necessary to systematically support married nurses with empathy for the elders in long term care, so that their careers are not cut off and they can continue to practice geriatric nursing successfully.