Knowledge Of Intensive Care Unit Nurses Research Articles

Investigation of Knowledge and Behaviors of Intensive Care Nurses on the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections and Related Factors

Background: The compliance of the intensive care unit (ICU) nurses regarding infection control assessment is essential for safe and quality health care. It has been seen that the knowledge of ICU nurses about nosocomial infections (NIs) is not sufficient, and they do not apply standard-contamination precautions. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the knowledge and behaviors of intensive care nurses about NIs and related factors. Methods: This descriptive-observational research was carried out in the surgical intensive care units of three hospitals in Turkey. A total of 103 eligible nurses were included in the study. An 80% classification system was used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean score of nurses' knowledge about NIs prevention was 41.52 ± 2.86. The participants' mean knowledge scores on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related bloodstream infection, catheter-related urinary tract infection, and surgical site infection were 15.86 ± 1.54, 13.08 ± 1.54, 5.98 ± 0.83, and 6.59 ± 0.95, respectively. The mean behavior score for NIs prevention was found as 15.86 ± 1.54. The participants' mean scores on prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related bloodstream infection, catheter-related urinary tract infection, and surgical site infection were 6.93 ± 0.89, 4.77 ± 0.82, 4.67 ± 0.71, and 1.10 ± 0.31, respectively. The mean scores of female nurses' knowledge on NIs prevention were higher than males (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the nurses' weekly working hours and their knowledge and behavior scores regarding NIs prevention (P < 0.05). Conclusions: It was determined that the knowledge and behaviors of intensive care nurses regarding the prevention of NIs were insufficient. Also, gender and weekly working hours contribute to knowledge and behaviors related to NIs prevention.

Knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation in China. Aerosol therapy is a routine operation for intensive care unit (ICU) nurses; however, evidence of the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation is insufficient in China. A total of 433 hospitals in 92 cities (including 31 capital cities) in 31 provinces in China participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to investigate the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation, including 42 questions covering five aspects: sociodemographic information, aerosolisation devices, atomised drugs, atomisation operation and atomisation-related knowledge. Descriptive analyses of the distribution of the sample are reported as percentages and medians. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to detect the factors of the interviewee's atomisation knowledge and practices scores. A STROBE checklist was used to guide the reporting of the research. Of the 1995 questionnaires that were returned, 1978 were analysed. Bronchodilators and glucocorticoids were the most frequently administered drugs. Seventy-four per cent of the total respondents reported placing a filter on the expiratory limb during aerosol therapy, and 47% of these reported that the filter was changed once a day. Only 13% of the respondents reported always turning the heating humidifier off during aerosol therapy, and 48% never did. Knowledge about the optimal droplet size or atomisation yield was poor. Work experience in the ICU and frequency of atomisation training were the independent influencing factors for atomisation knowledge and practice scores (F=279.653,p<.001;F=120.556,p<.001, respectively). The knowledge of ICU nurses about the optimal implementation of aerosol therapy is poor, and the current scientific knowledge about optimal implementation seemed to be applied infrequently. Atomisation-related training should be strengthened, especially for nurses with junior titles and with less work experience. Improving the level of ICU nurses' atomisation practice ability is helpful to ensure patient safety. In clinical work, atomisation expert consensus can be used to carry out relevant training and standardise atomisation operation.

Exploring nurses’ knowledge of basic life support guideline of American Heart Association: a local study

Objective: Awareness of the changes concerning the clinical guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is essential for nurses. This study aimed at assessing the nurses’ knowledge of the 2015 American Heart Association basic life support guideline algorithm. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the knowledge of 183 nurses working in emergency departments, intensive care unit (ICU) and coronary care unit (CCU) regarding the 2015 American Heart Association basic life support guideline algorithm was investigated. Data were collected by a 20-item questionnaire regarding the knowledge needed for resuscitation operations as well as the identification of the early stages of cardiac arrest. Nurses with a score of 10 and less were put in the poor group, 11-15 in the fair group, and score of more than 15 in the good group. Results: Results showed that the highest percentage of the right answer was observed in questions 20 (98.4%), 11 (93.4%), and 1 (88%), while the lowest percentage of the correct answer was found in questions 13 (30.6%), 2 (31.1%), and 3 (32.8%). Mean ± SD of knowledge score was 12.3±2.2. A statistically significant difference was observed between knowledge of ICU nurses with an experience of basic life support educational course and those with no experience of such education. The knowledge score of educated and non-educated nurses was 11.5±2.2 and 13.2±2.5, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicated that ICU nurses do not have enough knowledge about basic life support of the 2015 American Heart Association guideline. Development of knowledge is one of the important components of professional expansion in nursing education programs.

Knowledge and attitudes of Saudi intensive care unit nurses regarding oral care delivery to mechanically ventilated patients with the effect of healthcare quality accreditation.

Introduction:Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a major morbid outcome among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Providing oral care for intubated patients is an important task by the ICU nursing staff in reducing the mortality and morbidity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of ICU nurses regarding oral care delivery to critically ill patients in Saudi Arabian ICUs. The findings were further correlated to the presence of healthcare quality accreditation of the institution.Materials and Methods:The nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and healthcare quality accreditation status of the hospital were recorded. Two hundred fifteen nurses conveniently selected from 10 random hospitals were included in this study from Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study in the form of a questionnaire.Results:When comparing the knowledge of the participants to their level of education, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups of nurses. The majority of the nurses agreed that the oral cavity is difficult to clean and that oral care delivery is a high priority for mechanically ventilated patients. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the attitudes between nurses working in accredited and nonaccredited hospitals.Conclusion:The presence of healthcare quality accreditation did not reflect any significance in attitudes or knowledge of the ICU nurses in regard to mechanically ventilated patients. Factors affecting oral care delivery should be evaluated on the personal and institutional level to achieve better understanding of them.