Cami Schiel, Brigham Young University
Nursing
65 French hospital nurses in Avignon, France were surveyed about their opinions about healthcare. Survey results identified and described French nurses’ perceptions of their health care system as well as other systems. Access to care was a positive aspect of their healthcare system that was identified by a majority of the respondents. Abuse or lack of oversight, and budget deficit were major themes identified as negative aspects of the French healthcare system. The French nurses’ opinions about different countries’ health care systems were compared to World Health Organization [WHO] (2000) rankings. French nurses overwhelmingly ranked France’s healthcare system as number one, which matched the WHO (2000) ranking. 73% of respondents prioritized preventative care over acute treatment. Work and other professional peers were identified as the main sources of influence on French nurses’ perceptions of health- care both French and internationally. Nurses’ opinions heavily influenced other nurses in the workplace. An implication from this study is that nurses can have a powerful impact on others’ viewpoints about healthcare. They are also a valuable resource for identifying strengths and weaknesses of a healthcare system, given their lived experience working in the healthcare system.