Assessment of Knowledge about Priorities of Nurses’ Responsibilities at Emergency Departments in Baghdad Teaching Hospitals

Abstract

Priorities of responsibility are essential function in emergency department. Effective priorities of responsibilities system aim to ensure that patients who seek emergency care receive an appropriate attention, in a suitable location, with the requisite degree of urgency. Such an emergency care is an initial in response to clinical need rather than order of arrival. This study therefore aimsto assess the knowledge and skills of priorities of responsibilities among nurses who work in the Emergency Departments in Baghdad Teaching Hospitals. Objective:The study objective is to assess knowledge about priorities of nurses' responsibilities at Emergency Departments and to determine the association between knowledge about prioritization of nurses' responsibilities and demographic characteristics of age, level of education and gender. Methodology:A descriptive study was conducted in the Baghdad Teaching Hospitals. Starting from December 20 th , 2015 up to the August 30th, 2016. A purposive non-probability sample of (80) nurses, who have been working in emergency departments, were selected from Baghdad Teaching Hospitals which include Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital, Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, and Al-Kadhmiyia Teaching Hospital. Descriptive statistical measures were used to analyze the data.The data were collected through the use of constructed questionnaire, which consists of two parts; (1) Demographic data which consists of (6) items, and (2) Nurses' knowledge which consists of (28) items. Thereliability was determined through a pilot study.The validity was determined through a panel of (14) experts. Descriptive statistical measures (frequency, percentage, mean of score), and inferential statistical measures (Chi-square and Relative Sufficiency) were used for the data analysis. Results: The study results indicate thatmore than a third of the study participants are of the 23-27 years-old age group (35%), more than a half of them are males (57.5%),more than a third of them are Secondary Nursing School graduates (35%),less than two fifth of them had (1-5) years of experience in hospital (37.5%),most of them had 1-5 years of experience in emergency department (72.5%), and more than two fifth of them had one training session(42.5%). Conclusions:The majority of the nurses had poor knowledge concerning priorities of responsibilities and there was non-significant association between the nurses' knowledge and their gender and age, but there is a significant association between nurses' knowledge and their educational level. Recommendations:The researchersrecommend that the referral hospitals should develop procedure manuals that provide detailed information about all priorities of responsibilities. The procedure manual should be subjected to an annual audit, and active steps should be initiated to remedy identified deficiencies.