Perspectiva dos enfermeiros brasileiros sobre o impacto da acreditação hospitalar

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the impact of hospital accreditation programs from the nurses' perspective. This quantitative, descriptive, exploratory study was performed in a private general hospital. This institution is accredited with Excellence (Level III, the highest) by the Brazilian National Accreditation Organization. Data collection was conducted using a Likert-type questionnaire consisting of seven scales related to: quality results; human resources utilization; strategic quality planning; quality management; use of data related to patient satisfaction; staff involvement; and benefits of accreditation. The results show that nurses perceived improvements as outcome of the accreditation process in the following areas: strategic quality planning; quality management; use of data related to patient satisfaction; and staff involvement with hospital quality. Inversely, the accreditation process have not result in developments in relation to the time given to nurses to plan for and test quality improvements, and also in relation to human resources utilization, especially concerning rewards and recognition strategies. We concluded that nurses have a key role in accomplishment of the accreditation process and therefore rewards and recognition strategies need to be better developed and implemented, and nurses need to be given adequate time for performing activities related to the accreditation process.