Nurses' characteristics and practice environments: Comparison between clusters with different attitude and utilisation profiles regarding nursing diagnosis

Aim To identify clusters of nurses in relation to the utilisation and attitude towards nursing diagnosis and to compare their profiles considering demographics, professional characteristics and nursing practice environments. Background Nursing diagnosis has benefits for both patients and nurses, and the attitude of nurses towards nursing diagnosis has been proposed as a determinant of its use. Therefore, an adequate understanding of nurses' attitude and utilisation profiles regarding nursing diagnosis is essential for the nursing managers who want to adopt nursing diagnosis as a practice framework. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was used. A sample of 239 nurses working in the Catalan primary health care system were categorised into clusters with similar attitude and utilisation profiles, which were compared with each other a posteriori. Results Nursing managers were grouped into more positive attitude clusters than clinical nurses. Nurses working in supportive nursing practice environments were classified into more positive attitude and higher utilisation clusters. Conclusion The field of work and nursing practice environments were found as differential factors in profiles of nurses with different attitudes towards and/or utilisation of nursing diagnosis. Implications for Nursing Management: The promotion of supportive nursing practice environments could enhance the implementation and maintenance of nursing diagnosis as a practice framework in primary health care.