Importance of nurse caring behaviors as perceived by patients after myocardial infarction.

Our purpose was to identify nursing behaviors perceived as indicators of caring by patients who have had a myocardial infarction. A sample of 22 hospitalized patients were interviewed, with use of an open-ended question and the Caring Behaviors Assessment, to determine what things nurses said or did that conveyed caring to the patients during their stay in the coronary care unit (CCU). An analysis of the relative importance of each identified behavior revealed that nursing actions that focused on the physical care and monitoring of patients were seen as most indicative of caring. Teaching activities were also perceived as significant whereas extra, individualized aspects of care were viewed as less important in the critical care setting. No significant differences in perceptions were found on the basis of sex, age, education level, number of CCU admissions, or length of CCU stay. Critical care nurses should be aware that assessment activities and demonstration of professional competence are viewed by patients as significant expressions of caring.