What is a primary goal of patient-centered care recognized in nursing practice?

Enhancing patient satisfaction is a cornerstone of patient-centered care in nursing practice. This approach places the patient at the forefront of care, focusing on their individual needs, preferences, and values. When care is designed around the patient's experience, it fosters a collaborative environment where healthcare providers work together to ensure that patients feel heard, respected, and actively involved in their own care decisions.

This emphasis on patient satisfaction aligns with the overall objective of improving health outcomes. When patients are more satisfied, they are likely to engage more fully in their treatment plans, adhere to medical advice, and communicate more openly with their healthcare providers. This not only enhances the patient experience but also promotes better health outcomes, contributing positively to the overall quality of care delivered.

While reducing medical errors and improving nurse workload conditions are important aspects of healthcare, they are more about systemic improvements rather than the specific centrality of the patient’s needs. Similarly, maximizing hospital revenue is a goal related to the administration and financial health of the institution, which does not directly reflect the essence of patient-centered care. Thus, the primary goal remains enhancing patient satisfaction, as it fundamentally drives the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice.