A descriptive analysis of nursing satisfaction: first-time versus non-first-time medical-surgical patients.

Patient assessment of satisfaction is very important in achieving high patient-retention rates in a highly competitive environment (Bendall-Lyon & Powers, 2004). This study's purpose was to analyze the perception of nursing satisfaction with first-time versus non-first-time medical-surgical patients. The study involved a patient satisfaction questionnaire sent to 2,265 discharged inpatients in a 537-bed teaching hospital in northeastern Ohio. Group means and standard deviations indicate no difference between first-time and non-first-time admits in nursing care satisfaction; therefore, it's difficult to conclude why patients' assessments were so similar. Quite possibly, all patients recognize the hard work and efforts of registered nurses.