| Purpose: Accreditation helps to ensures safe and high-quality services in hospitals. Different
occupational groups have various hospital accreditation experiences. Our study aimed to
investigate nurses' accreditation experience and its effects on Iranian teaching hospital service
quality.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This was a qualitative study involving a phenomenological
approach to studying nurses' hospital accreditation experience and understanding the effects on
Iranian teaching hospital service quality. Data were collected using two focus groups in which
nurses were selected using purposive sampling. Transcripts were analysed using content
analysis.
Findings: Nurses' experiences showed that hospital administrators and nurses had greater role in
implementing accreditation than other occupational groups. Accreditation improved patientcenteredness,
patient safety, logistics and managerial processes, and decision making. However,
a weak incentive system, extra documentation and work stress were negative experiences.
Practical implications: Nurse experience, as the most important care team member, reveals
accreditation’s strengths and weaknesses and its effects on service quality. |