Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of autonomy level on professional self-esteem in nurses. The research has been conducted in descriptive type by using relational screening model. The research data have been obtained from 265 nurses working in four public hospitals in a city center and volunteered to participate in the study. In the collection of the data, "Personal Information Form", "Dempster Practice Behaviors Scale (DPBS)”, and "Professional Self-Esteem Scale (PSES)" have been used. The evaluation of data have been made by using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis. In the study, the total score average of the nurses' autonomy level has been calculated as 45.91 ± 8.234 and the total score average of professional self-esteem has been calculated as 97.00 ± 20.097. It was determined that the independent behavior (t= 2.718, p= .007) sub-dimension related to autonomy in nurses significantly predicted professional self-esteem, and the sub-dimensions of professional behavior (t= 1.292, p= .198) and decision-making (t= -.045, p= .964) did not. As the result of the research, the autonomy and professional self-esteem of the nurses were determined at medium level. It was revealed that independent behavior in nurses significantly predicted professional self-esteem. According to this result, it is important to support nurses professional autonomy and to recognize adequate autonomy in their practice in order to increase the professional self-esteem of nurses.