INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Anambra state is one of the leading states in the eastern part of Nigeria.

The state was created in August 1991 it has the population of 6.4 million

(NPC 2006). Anambra state is comprises of (21) twenty one local

governments with its capital and headquarter located at Awka. River

Nigerr connect Anambra state and Asaba in Delta state.

Ihiala local government is one of the local government of Anambra state

with its headquarter at Ihiala town. Ihiala is a very big town with ten (10)

big villages each of the village is having 11 clans. The town has the

population of sixty one thousand four hundred and ninety (61490)

people (NPC 2006). Ihiala is blessed with two government hospitals

and five private hospitals.

Our Lady of Lourdes hospital is one of the private and the oldest hospital

in Ihiala. It is situated at the heart of the town in Umuadobihi in Umuamu

village in Ihiala town. Our Lady of Lourdes hospital was established in

1930 as the first hospital to take care of the sick (Hospital records). The

hospital being a mission hospital was regarded as referral centre and

was notably known for their outstanding performance in health care

delivery. This outstanding performance was then attributed and traced

to the fact that nurses were made to perform their role as the pivot of the

hospital.

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2001) define relationship as a

way in which two people or group of people behave toward each other or

deal with each other. Relationship could be in form of observation

listening advising caring giving a helping hand and doing what is

required of you towards another person.

Objective of human relation in organization are to make employee more

productive develop right attitude towards work and have a sense of

belonging. Manager understands human needs and how to satisfy them

and become more sensitive to the environment (Olowu 2005).

Nursing is as old as mankind. It is life saving measure and have high

regard with the people. According to Leebous (2010) “patient and

families count on nurses for their up keep in regard to their health need”.

Because of these expectation and regard nursing performance more

especially the nurse patient relationship is so central to patient

satisfaction.

Nurse patient relationship is curative it gives psychological healing.

Therefore effectiveness of nurse patient relationship is worth emulating.

According to research by Press Ganey Association Inc. (2010) nurse

patient relationship set a tone to the care experience and has a powerful

impact on patient satisfaction. Nurses spend the most time with the

patient who observe their interaction and reaction to them (patient) and

care giving team. With their observation they draw conclusion about the

hospital and this affect them and their family. Without a positive nurse

patient relationship there cannot be patient and family satisfaction. And

there cannot be an environment that supports anxiety reduction and

healing.

Statement of Problem

Available literature indicates that nurses form about 70 percent of the

work force of the health care delivery (Musa 1997).

Therefore their performance could determine the success or failure of

the health sector. Quite a number of impediments are militating against

nurse patient relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala

Anambra state. These among others include inadequate equipment and

materials shortage of manpower un-conducive work environment non

uniformity of salary and delay in promotion.

Nurses as manager and leader have the responsibility of managing

everything that affect the nursing of patient (Olowu 2005).

Nurses should take care of the physical needs of the patient and give

them the necessary psychological support together with their relatives.

As a professional body nurses should assess their patient’s problem

through observation talking listening and discussing with the patient as

the needs arises.

It is against this background that the study will find out factors that are

militating against nurse-patient relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes

hospital Ihiala Anambra state.

Purpose of the Study

The study is aimed at finding out the factors militating against

nurse-patient relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala

Anambra state. Specifically the study.:

1. Found out the administrative factors hindering the nurse patient

relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala Anambra state.

2. Determined the environmental factors impeding the relationship

between nurses and patient in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital

Ihiala Anambra state.

3. Ascertained the training factors militating against the relationship

between nurses and patients in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital

Ihiala Anambra state.

4. Identified measures for improving cordial relationship between

nurses and patients in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala

Anambra state.

Significance of the Study

At the end of this study the hospital will experience general progress

former glory restored. There will be increase in patient turn up and the

income to the hospital.

Nurses will be oblige to work more effectively in a conducive

environment and other gaps causing poor nursing care will be taking

care of; their due right giving to them.

The patients will be happy with the nurses and hospital management as

they receive good nursing care. They will be going home satisfactory

and recover as at when due.

The community will not be left out; they will be proud of the hospital and

rely on their treatment. There will be increase in the health status of the

entire community.

Research Questions

1. What are the administrative factors hindering the nurse patient

relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala Anambra state.

2. What are the environmental factors impeding nurse-patient

relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala Anambra state.

3. What are the training factors militating against nurse-patient

relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala Anambra state.

4. What are the measures for improving cordial relationship between

nurses and patient in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala

Anambra state.

Limitations of the Study

The scope of this study is restricted only to the administrative

environmental and training factors that are militating against

nurse-patient relationship in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala

Anambra state and measures to improve the cordial relationship.