Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to describe the perception of head nurses about meaning of quality nursing service, supporting factors and barriers, and means to improve quality of nursing service. The qualitative research approach was applied. Data collection was performed during April to August 2005.The results revealed that quality of nursing service could be categorized into two aspects. First, the characteristic of service customers received. This category covered standard services, holistic services and services that customers should gain as their right. Second, the outcome of services that refered to safty services and satisfactory services.Supporting factors to quality nursing service were quality personnel which included knowledgeable, ethical, healthy, cooperated care provider among multidisciplinary teams. Supporting administrators who employed independent working atmosphere, promote employees, spirtual and moral, conducted efficient communication and clear working policy was a supporting factor. Other supporting factors included appropriate organizational structure, sufficient equipment, as well as cllents complaing.Barriers to quality nursing services were personnel without quality oriented, poor cooperation among multidisciplinary teams, unsupporting administrator, inefficient communication, unappropriate organization structure, insufficient equipment and unappropriate ration between care providers and clients. Nurses' experience has been seen as both supporting factor and barrilers to quality of nursing service some head nurse stated that experienced nurses prouded good quality nursing care while the other expressed that unexperienced nurses with good will would provide high quality nursing care.Good team work, personnel development and ethical employed working atmosphere would promote high quality working service.