This study examined the level of awareness regarding malpractice among registered nurses working in selected tertiary hospitals in Iligan City. It found that length of work experience has a significant relationship to nurses' level of awareness of malpractice, with awareness improving as experience increases. The study assessed nurses' demographics, sources of knowledge about malpractice, and level of awareness in areas like the nursing process, cognitive ability, and client needs. It recommends nurses participate in continuing education to enhance their knowledge of malpractice and nursing laws.

1. Level of Awareness Regarding Malpractice Among Registered Nurses in the Selected Tertiary Hospitals in Iligan City Reynel Dan L. Galicinao MariaLourdes R. Balucan AngeliaT. Galinato

2. A well-grounded understanding of the legal and ethical dimensions of practice provides the foundation for professional nursing. Berman, 2008

3. Patricia Benner’s Model of Skill Acquisition in Nursing

6. Statement of the Problem What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: Age? Gender? Marital Status? Employment Status? Area of Assignment? Length of Work Experience? What is/are the source(s) of knowledge of the respondents regarding malpractice? What is the level of awareness on malpractice among the respondents?

7. In what areas are the respondents most at risk for malpractice in terms of: Nursing Process? Cognitive Ability? Client Needs? Content Area? Is there a significant relationship between the respondent’s profiles to the sources of knowledge of registered nurses regarding malpractice? Is there a significant relationship between the profile and the level of awareness on malpractice or professional negligence among respondents? Is there a significant relationship between the source of knowledge and the level of awareness on malpractice or professional negligence among respondents?

8. Methodology Descriptive-correlational design A 50-item standardized questionnaire was used to assess the level of awareness regarding malpractice among nurses in MSH, GTLMH, IMCC, DUHI

10. 63 registered nurses participated in the study. They were asked about their age, gender, marital status, employment status, area of assignment, length of work experience, sources of knowledge. Their level of awareness was assessed using the standardized questionnaire.

11. Distribution of Respondents on the Hospital they Work on

12. Age Distribution

27. Nursing Process

28. Cognitive Ability

29. Client Needs

30. Area of Nursing Practice

31. Summary

32. Total

33. Chi-Square

36. Conclusion The nurse respondents’ nursing skills, especially those related to their awareness of malpractice or professional negligence, did improve with their experience, a finding that does conform to the requirements in Patricia Benner’s model.

37. Length of work experience has a significant relationship to their level of awareness in malpractice. Other profiles have no significant relationship with their level of awareness in malpractice.

38. Recommendations Nurses should participate in continuing education, trainings, seminars to enhance their knowledge regarding malpractice. Subjects regarding nursing laws and jurisprudence should be enhanced and given greater emphasis as well as the nursing process. Similar studies should be done regarding nursing malpractice, especially in the Philippines as there is scarce research regarding this area.

39. The future of health care brings many challenges to nurses and other health care professionals who provide care. This study addresses only a minute portion of one of those challenges. It just opens the door to vast awareness nurses must strive for.

40. Thank You… Have a Nice Day!