Table 2.

Operationalisation of the measure of nurses’ autonomy versus subordination

From Heinemann et al 53	Operationalisation in this study
The physician should not always have the final word in decisions made by healthcare teams.	Nurses and other non-physician professionals are involved in clinical decisions regarding their patients (yes, all the time=2, sometimes=1, rarely=0).
The physician has the ultimate legal responsibility for decisions made by healthcare teams.	A physician has to be physically present in the clinic at all times for services to be delivered (no=2, yes, but exceptions apply=1, yes=0).

From Hojat et al 1999	Operationalisation in this study
Physicians and nurses should contribute to decisions regarding the hospital discharge of patients.	Nurses can treat and send a patient back home without asking permission from a physician (yes=2, In some circumstances=1, no=0).
Nurses should be involved in making policy decisions concerning the hospital support services on which their work depends.	Nurses and other non-physician professionals are involved in organisational/managerial decisions (yes, all the time=2, sometimes=1, rarely=0).
The primary function of the nurse is to carry out the physician’s orders.	Nurses and other non-physician professionals are involved in supervision and training activities (yes, all the time=2, sometimes=1, rarely=0).