Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration  2017;23(3):249-258

doi:10.11111/jkana.2017.23.3.249

Empathy Ability, Communication Ability, and Nursing Performance of Registered Nurses and Nursing Assistants in Long-term Care Hospitals.

Sun Jin JEONG 1 ; Kye Ha KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Empathy; Communication; Task performance; Nurses; Nurses aides

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate empathy ability, communication, and nursing performance among registered nurses (RN) and nursing assistants (NA) in long-term care hospitals. METHODS: Participants were 155 nursing personnel (RN 80 and AN 75) who worked in 8 long-term care hospitals in G city and J Province. Data collection was conducted from July 6 to August 6, 2016. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression were used with SPSS/WIN program version 23.0 for data analysis. RESULTS: Nursing performance of RN was significantly influenced by communication ability (β=.88, p<.001) and university graduation (β=.25, p=.025). Nursing performance of NA was influential by communication ability (β=.77, p<.001) and marriage (β=.42, p=.018). CONCLUSION: Findings show that communication ability of RN and NA is important in nursing performance. Therefore, there is a need to develop programs to improve communication ability and validate the effectiveness of the programs in improving nursing performance of nursing personnel working at long-term care hospitals.