Article Nurses ’ perceptions of their professional rights

The purpose of this study, which is part of a wider study of professional ethics, was to describe nurses’ perceptions of their rights in Italy. The data were collected by open-ended focus group interviews and analyzed with inductive content analysis. Based on the analysis, three main themes were identified. The first theme ‘‘Unfamiliarity with rights’ ’ described nurses ’ perception that their rights mirrored historical roots, educational content, and nurses ’ and patients ’ position in the society. The second theme, ‘‘Rights reflected in legislation’ ’ highlighted that working and professional Italian legislation played a strong role. The third theme, ‘‘Managerial barriers for nurses ’ rights’ ’ underlined the nurses ’ perceptions that nursing management had the responsibility to create the conditions where nurses ’ rights could flourish. This study intends to contribute to the debate on this underexplored topic