Nurses' Attitudes Toward Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Worksite Comparison

BACKGROUND: Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have reported being stigmatized when they seek care for pain. Nurse attitudes contribute to stigmatization and may affect patients' response to sickle cell cues, care-seeking, and ultimately patient outcomes. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine if there are significant differences in nurse attitudes towards patients with SCD by worksite- medical-surgical units compared to emergency departments/intensive care units (ED/ICU). DESIGN: The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive comparative design. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 77 nurses (36 nurses from the ED/ICU and 41 nurses from medical-surgical units) who completed an anonymous online survey. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in attitudes by worksite with both sites having high levels of negative attitudes towards patients with SCD. Findings suggest that nurses from both worksites need additional education about SCD and care of this vulnerable, patient population