The Relation between Nurses’ Autonomy and their Perception of Professional Development.

Background: Nurses' autonomy refers to their ability to make independent decisions and take actions within their scope of practice without constant supervision. It is an essential aspect of professional development and plays a crucial role in shaping nurses' perception of their own growth and advancement in their careers. Nurses' perception of professional development is influenced by various factors, including their level of autonomy. Nurses who perceive professional development as a priority are more likely to actively seek out these opportunities and take ownership of their career progression. Aim: Assess the relation between nurses' autonomy and their perception of professional development. Design: A descriptive correlation design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: Conducted in all Medical and Surgical Departments/ Units at Benha University Hospital. Subjects: Consisted of simple random sample of staff nurses, included 327 of them. Tools: Two tools were used to conduct this study; Ι: Nursing Autonomy Scale. Π: Professional Development Questionnaire. Results: About half (49.2%) of the nurses had low autonomy level. While three fifths (60.6%) of the nurses had high perception level regarding development. Conclusions: There was a positive statistically significant correlation professional between nurses' autonomy and their perception regarding professional development. Recommendations: Recognize and reward autonomy through acknowledging nurses' achievements, providing opportunities for career advancement, and offering competitive compensation packages.