Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices concerning Safety Measures throughout Intravenous Therapy Administration

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Medical and Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University.

2 Demonstrator, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University.

3 Ass. Prof., Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University.

4 Ass. Prof., Medical and Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University.

Abstract

Medication errors are globally identified placing the patients and healthcare providers at risk of blood born associated adverse events. However, unsafe intravenous (IV) injection practices had spread all over the world; signifying the nurses’ responsibilities in safe and effective Intravenous (IV) therapy administration; in order to prevent its serious errors hazards and complications. Aim of the study: Assess nurses' knowledge and practices related to safety measures during administration of intravenous therapy. Setting: This study was carried out in Damanhour Hospital in medical units. Subject: All staff nurses involved in direct patient care and responsible for giving IV therapy and work in medical units (65) nurses. Tools: Tool 1: Nurses’ knowledge related to safety measures during administration of intravenous therapy; through a structured interview schedule. Tool 2: Nurses’ practices observational checklist related to safety measures during administration of IV therapy. Result: All nurses were female, majority of them in age group of > 35 years. Where, 70.8% and 67.7% of the nurses; respectively had poor total practices and knowledge scores related to their safety nursing measures during IV therapy administration. Additionally, a positive statistical correlation was found between total nurses 'knowledge scores and total nurses practice scores. Conclusion: The present study nurses’ practices as well as their knowledge levels as regards to safety measures during the administration of IV therapy were poor. On the other hand, a positive statistically correlation was observed between total nurses' knowledge and practice scores reflecting that their performance is mainly based on their acquired knowledge. Recommendation: Nurses should be encouraged to attend regular scientific meetings, conferences and training programs to keep pace with the rapidly growing knowledge and practical in nursing science.

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