NURSING STAFF PERCEPTION REGARDING CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENTAL HOSPITALS

Abstract

Crisis has always threatened human societies. Organizational studies long time ago has been interested in crises and crisis management (Bundy, Pfarrer & Coombs, 2016). Accidents and crisis could be an internal or external event that can affect hospital staff, patients, visitors and community (Al Battat & Som, 2013 ). Organizations are judged by their response to a crisis itself; choosing a proactive planning, respectful "systems approach" differentiates a good response from an average or poor one (Steen &Aven, 2011 ). This study was aimed to assess nursing staff perception regarding crisis management in selected private and Governmental hospitals. A descriptive comparative design was used to collect data from one private and two Governmental hospitals. A convenient sampling technique was utilized in this study. A study sample composed of 530 nurses working in different clinical areas in the hospitals previously mentioned; they were divided into 230 nurses from private hospital and 300 nurses from Governmental hospitals. They were working in different clinical areas in Governmental hospitals. Data were collected utilizing Crisis management questionnaire that was adapted from El Gedely, (2006). Study result indicated a highly significant difference between nursing staff perceptions regarding all crisis management preparedness stages in private and Governmental hospitals. Nursing staff working in private hospital had high perception compared to those working in governmental hospitals. Continuing educational programs regarding crisis management to the nursing staff and good clarification for policies and communication within the organization are recommended by the researchers.