As a result of changes in the Polish healthcare system, healthcare institutions--including dialysis units--are expected to provide their patients with broad-spectrum and high-quality services. Nurses are the members of the therapeutic team who spend most time with the patient undergoing renal replacement therapy, and thus the image of the whole dialysis unit depends on their work. The aim of the study was to assess the dialysis patients' expectations towards their nurses.
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 150 adult dialysis patients treated with hemodialysis in dialysis units in Lodz region. The participants were asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire specially tailored for the study.
Results: We showed that dialysis patients were generally satisfied with the level of care provided by nurses and described them as reliable, professional and well-qualified. Patients especially valued kind attitude, smile and friendliness of the nurses. Fully professional care was noticed by 25.7% of patients. Patients dialyzed for a longer period of time (over 10 years) described nurses' knowledge, practical skills and independence with more criticism. A quarter of them stated that nurses always relied on the doctor's decision.
Conclusions: The study revealed that dialysis nurses' work, practical skills and attitude were assessed very well by patients. Their level of satisfaction would be higher if nurses spent more time and initiated more discussion with the patients. The high merit that nurses received should be considered as a stimulus that ought to increase the professional independence and quality of dialysis nurses performance.