THE INFLUENCE OF CARING AND PROFESSIONALISM OF NURSES ON PATIENT SATISFACTION WHICH HAS AN IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF NURSING CLINICS AND PATIENT SAFETY IN HOSPITALS

Introduction : Caring is showing concern for others, respecting human dignity, and committing to being attentive in service. Nursing professionalism involves a nurse's ability to communicate with patients, provide services according to practice standards and ethical codes, and develop themselves formally and informally. To determine the influence of nurse caring and professionalism on patient satisfaction that impacts the quality of nursing clinics and safety in hospitals.

Method: The research conducted was quantitative and followed a cross-sectional approach, utilizing proportional random sampling. The population studied consisted of all patients in the hospital from November to December 2023. A total of 250 individuals were surveyed using the Caring Professional Scale (CPS) Swanson's and ServQual questionnaires. Source of data from primary data, with descriptive analysis techniques with the help of SPSS and Excel.

Results: 56.5% of the respondents were female and 42.3% had completed high school. The nurse's caring and professionalism were rated as 'always' in terms of having a concern for the patient (52%) and 'mostly' in terms of providing easily understandable information to the patient (32%). The patient satisfaction statement rated 'very satisfied' was empathy (83.66%), 'very satisfied' was Responsiveness (80,88%), and 'very satisfied' was Tangible (79,25%). The nursing clinic achieved a quality score of 83.33% and patient safety was at 95.07%

Conclusion: Overall, respondents perceived that patients were very satisfied with the nursing services provided at the hospital. 83.66% of patients were satisfied with the empathy shown by the nurses, including their kindness and concern for patients and their families. The nurses' responsiveness to patients was 80.88%. The study found that the nurses' caring and professionalism had an impact on patient satisfaction, the quality of nursing care, and patient safety in the hospital. To serve with care and professionalism, nurses need to consistently and committedly provide patient-focused nursing care. Therefore, nurses must improve their ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals, so that patients have an unforgettable positive experience during their hospitalization. In addition, nurses need to continuously develop themselves as the times are dynamic and constantly changing.