The relationship between knowledge management and nursing care performance

Abstract

The role of knowledge management in addressing the quality of care rendered by registered nurses has received little attention in Nigerian teaching hospitals. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge management and performance of nursing care in selected teaching hospitals. A quantitative study comprising of a survey design was employed. Data was collected from 320 registered nurses using the proportionate stratified sampling method from two purposively selected teaching hospitals in South West, Nigeria. Questionnaires were distributed to registered nurses across the clinical units in the selected teaching hospitals. Structural equation modelling using SPSS version 22 was used to test the hypothesised relationships. The findings revealed that information technology, organisational structure and organisational culture in knowledge management infrastructure are found to positively and significantly influence knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, conversion, application and protection) in the selected teaching hospitals. The study further revealed that the mutual relationship between the dimensions of knowledge management infrastructure and knowledge management process strongly and significantly influence nursing care performance in the teaching hospitals. Knowledge management infrastructure and process can contribute to the overall performance of nursing care and simultaneously improve the performance of teaching hospitals.