Factors affecting nurses'perceptions of authority and autonomy

This research was conducted in order to examine the factors affecting the perceptions of authority and autonomy of nurses working in hospitals. The research was conducted using descriptive and predictive type of quantitative research methods and was conducted with the participation of 312 nurses. The data were collected by using the "Descriptive and Professional Characteristics Information Form" and the "Nursing Authority and Autonomy Scale", which contains the descriptive and professional characteristics of the participants. Descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum), t-test, ANOVA test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis H test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the evaluation of the data. It was determined that the average total score of the nurses participating in the study on the nursing authority and autonomy scale was at a moderate level (138.54±15.37). It has been found that the perception levels of authority and autonomy of female nurses are higher than male nurses. The perception levels of authority and autonomy of nurses did not differ according to their educational status, and the perception levels of authority and autonomy scale as professional experience were found to be higher for nurses with 1-5 years of experience than for nurses with 16 years and more experience. 12.1% of the change in the total nursing authority and autonomy scale scores of the participants is explained by the totality of independent variables (R^2=,121). As a result, gender (women), professional experience (between 1-5 years), hospital (University Hospital), committee membership and education about laws and Decrees of nurses were found to be the factors affecting the perception levels of nursing authority and autonomy (p<,05). Keywords: Nurse, authority and autonomy in nursing, professional authority and autonomy.