Clarifying the concept of accountability in nursing: a concept analysis with Walker and Avant’s approach

Introduction:The concept of accountability in nursing, because of its widespread use and its great role in that is really important. And it is known and appeared as a high-quality index in the health system. In nursing terms such as Responsibility, Responsiveness, Authority, Autonomy, and Accountability as an alternative are used. The aim of this study was to analyze the concept of accountability by Walker Avant. Methodology:Internet search in reliable and available databases of CINHAL, MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Ovid, Iran Medex, Magiran, SID and Medical Dictionary, Oxford and Library Studies with using the keywords such as Accountability, Responsiveness, Responsibility, Authority, autonomy, and leadership in nursing from ۲۰۰۹ to ۲۰۱۹ has been done. Based on the steps of Walker and Evans analysis, definitions, applications, features, preparations, consequences and experimental references of the concept of accountability in nursing have been extracted. Results: Some qualities of accountability in nursing are the existence of an agent, the realm of authority for the agent, the manager's right to committal the agent to justification and the manager's right to punish or encourage. Preparations include having the ability (knowledge, skill, and experience), responsibility, authority, independence, and also Its consequences are readiness to explain or justify the action, encourage or blame the results of actions, satisfaction and improve the process and quality of care. conclusion: As a result, with this definition of accountability we conclude: "The nurse's justifications or reasonable response to responsibility for that she has the authority and autonomy and leads to the satisfaction and increment in the quality of nursing care is defined as the nursing accountability and in case of an unreasonable response to her action, she will be reprimanded by the manager. So, accountability causes revelation and clarification of the decisions and actions of the nurse and specify the reason for the action of the nurse for others (patient, nurse manager, health system). And focus on the result of the action.

Keywords:

Accountability , Responsiveness , Nursing , Responsibility , پاسخگویی , پاسخدهی , پرستاری , مسئولیت