Critical Care Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice Regarding Administration of Total Parenteral Nutrition at Critical Care Areas in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Critical care nurses are responsible for administering total parenteral nutrition that affects on critically ill patient general condition. Nurses must know proper constituents  of each solution and should be expert in calculating the dose of medication to prevent errors. Each nurse should be aware of indications, action, contraindications, adverse reactions  and  interactions of  each parenteral solution.  Moreover, nurses monitor  patients for  any negative signs of a change in condition, administer medication, and develop a plan of action for patients care. Aim of the study: to assess critical care nurses ' knowledge and practices regarding total parenteral nutrition. Research Design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized in this study. Research questions: the following two research questions were formulated ;a)what the nurses know about the administration of total parenteral nutrition?, b) what are the practices the nurses perform while administering the total  parentral nutrition. Setting: The study was carried out at different Critical Care units at Menofiya and Benha University Hospitals, in Egypt. Sample: A sample of convenience of 80 nurses from different critical care units with a minimum one year of experience were included in the present study. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used to collect data; the first tool has two parts ;part one is background data sheet that included gender, age, years of experience, educational level and area of work. part two was total parenteral nutrition knowledge questionnaire that was designed by researcher to assess knowledge regarding indication, contraindication,   and nursing measures  towards total parenteral nutrition. The second tool was  total parenteral nutrition observational checklist that was designed to assess nurses practices while administering. Results:The current study findings revealed that critical care nurses have got low knowledge and practice scores with  significant correlations between years of experience and their level of knowledge and practice regarding total parenteral nutrition. Conclusion: it can be concluded that critical care nurses have inadequate knowledge and practice regarding total parenteral nutrition. Recommendations: Carrying out educational programs about nursing management of total parenteral nutrition complications and training on total parenteral nutrition administration.

Key words: Critical Care Nurses ' knowledge , Nurses practice, Total parenteral nutrition.