Empowering Care: Evaluating Patient Autonomy Through Structured Nursing Indicators
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/curatio.v2i3.1405Keywords:
Patient Autonomy, Informed Consent, Shared Decision-Making, Nursing Ethics, Quality Indicator, APNAbstract
Patient autonomy is a cornerstone of ethical nursing care, yet few tools exist to evaluate how well it is implemented in clinical settings. This study introduces a structured framework for measuring autonomy using indicators tailored for Advanced Practice Nursing (APN). A conceptual analysis was conducted using ethical codes from the ANA and ICN, along with SDM literature and healthcare quality frameworks. Indicators were validated through literature review, expert feedback, and alignment with Donabedian's model of healthcare quality (structure, process, outcome). Five core indicators were identified: Informed Consent Quality, Shared Decision-Making Participation, Value-Concordant Care, Information Accessibility, and Autonomy Conflict Frequency, each operationalized through tools such as checklists, Likert scales, qualitative audits, and incident tracking. Barriers including institutional resistance, insufficient training, and EHR limitations were discussed, alongside the positive influence of ethical audits on nursing culture. A strong correlation was found between patient autonomy indicators and improved satisfaction, treatment adherence, and health outcomes. Operationalizing autonomy through validated indicators bridges the gap between ethical principles and clinical practice, enhancing ethical accountability and aligning nursing with global standards for patient-centered, quality-driven care.
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