KNOWLEDGE AND CARE PRACTICE OF NURSES OF INTENSIVE CARE UNITS REGARDING ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the knowledge and care practice of nurses in the care of patients with acute kidney injury in an intensive care unit. Method: cross-sectional study with 136 nurses from seven large public hospitals. Knowledge was measured by a questionnaire with 25 objective questions; and care practice, by a checklist with 15 questions. The instrument was created for this research and evaluated by judges regarding reliability, criterion and construct. Correlation tests, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used for data analysis. Results: the percentage of nurses' knowledge about acute kidney injury was 44.96%. The questions with the highest rates of correct answers dealt with nursing care. The percentage of execution of the practice was 47.54%. The most complete care was: applies protocol if the patient becomes hypotensive (89.7%); and checks skin condition, respiratory pattern and peripheral perfusion in complications (88.2%). Regarding professional data, it was observed that having a specialization in intensive care (p=0.034) and attending nephrology in specialization (p=0.030) were determining factors for greater knowledge, while specialization in intensive care (p=0.019) was a determining factor for practice. Conclusion: nurses obtained inadequate knowledge and care practice. It was observed that professionals with specialization in intensive care who attended a discipline or training in the area of nephrology showed better knowledge and care practices, when compared to those who did not. These data contribute to the construction of institutional policies that prioritize permanent education strategies in intensive care units.