Nurses’ knowledge and practice concerning fluid and electrolyte balance among patients with congestive heart failure

Abstract

Background: Critical care nurses have a vital role in identifying and treating the physiologicstressors experienced by critically ill patients that disrupt homeostasis such as the patients withCongestive Heart Failure (CHF). Aim of the study: to assess nurses’ knowledge and practiceconcerning fluid and electrolytes balance among patients with congestive heart failure andinvestigating the relation between their knowledge and practice. Subjects and Methods:Research design: Cross-sectional analytic design. Setting: The study was carried out at ZagazigMain University Hospital .Subjects:160 nurses and 160 CHF patients .Tools of data collection:a self-administered questionnaire sheet and an observation checklist. Results: nurses'knowledge about CHF and related fluid/electrolytes balance was high, with an overall goodpercentage having total satisfactory knowledge. The practice was deficient regarding assessmentof peripheral circulation, skin and mucous membranes, signs of altered tissue perfusion,ineffective breathing pattern, and alteration in fluid balance. Nurses’ knowledge was positivelyinfluenced by their age, and female gender. The practice was negatively influenced by theknowledge score and the number of medications taken by the patient, and the knowledge andpractice scores are negatively correlated. Conclusion: Hence, nurse’s age and gender as well asthe attendance of training courses are the factors influencing their knowledge, while the factorsaffecting practice are their knowledge and the number of medications given to patients. Inconclusion, nurses' knowledge about CHF and related fluid/ electrolytes balance is variable, withan overall good percentage of total satisfactory knowledge. The practice is generally higher. Theknowledge and practice scores are negatively correlated and the training courses have a negativeinfluence on nurses’ knowledge. Recommendations: The nurses working with patients with CHFimprove their knowledge, particularly the younger ones. The content and process of trainingcourses need to be revised, with more focus on applied knowledge.