Assessment of Nurse's Practices toward Care of Neonates with Hypoglycemia at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Al-Nasiriya City

Abstract

Background: The present study aims to assess Nurse's practices toward care of neonates with hypoglycemia at neonatal intensive care unit in Al-Nasiriya City and find out the relationship between nurse's practices and their socio-demographic characteristics including: (gender, age, level of education, marital status, their years of service in nursing, years of service in NICU, and number of training session related to the subject). 
 Aims of the study: To asses nurse's practices toward care of neonates with hypoglycemia and to determine the Relationship between Some Demographic Variable Such as ((gender, age, level of education, marital status, their years of service in nursing, years of service in NICU, and number of training session related to the subject). 
 Methodology: A descriptive design used in the present study established was for a period from 1th \ September \ 2020 to 30th \ march \ 2021. The study was conducted on non-probability (purposive sample) of 40 nurses working at neonatal intensive care units in Al-Nasiriya city. A questionnaire format for the research purpose and composed of two part the first part including socio-demographic characteristics the second part including check list of nurses practice toward neonatal hypoglycemia. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined through a pilot study and the validity through a panel of (12) experts. The data were described statistically and analyzed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistical analysis approaches which are applied by using SPSS version 22.0. 
 Results: The results of the present study showed that (52.5%) of nurses at age (26-30) years. Regarding to nurses gender, all of them are females. Regarding to educational level, (42.5%) of nurses have nursing bachelor graduated. Also result about years of service of nurses, (77.5% & 100%) of nurses has (1-5) years of service in nursing and in NICU respectively. Regarding to participating in training session related to hypoglycemia in neonate, (17.5% & 2.5%) of nurses have participate in (1-2 &3-4) training session. According to the finding of the nurses' practice at the test the nurses have low level of practice toward neonatal hypoglycemia. Nurses indicated that the level mean of the score, there is low level of assessment of 40 (100%) at level (1-1.66) the mean of score and standard deviation are (1.25±0.087). 
 Conclusion: The study showed that low nurses’ level of practice toward neonatal hypoglycemia during study. 
 Recommendations: Nurses' training session on how to care for a neonate with hypoglycemia. Follow-up and evaluation of nurses' neonatal care practices in the NICU.