Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Administration of Selected Positive Inotropics at Cairo University Hospitals

Abstract

Critical care  nurses are responsible for administering Inotropics  drugs that affects the patients cardiovascular functions. Nurses must  know proper diluents of each drug and  should be expert in calculating the dose of medication to prevent errors. Each nurse should be aware of indication,  action, contraindications, adverse reactions  interactions of drugs.  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 'nurses knowledge and practices regarding selected positive Inotropics. Research Design: A descriptive exploratory  design was utilized in this study. Research questions: To achieve the aim of the present study, the following two research questions were formulated ;a)what the nurses know about the  administration of selected positive Inotropics ?,b) what are the practices the nurses perform while administering the selected positive Inotropics?. Setting: The  study  was  carried  out  at  different  Critical  Care  units at  Cairo University Hospitals, in Egypt. Sample: A sample of convenience of 70 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 positive inotropics knowledge questionnaire that was designed by researcher  to assess knowledge regarding indication, contraindication,   and nursing measures taken with selected inotropics.  The second tool was positive inotropic observational checklist  that was designed to assess nurses practices while administering positive inotropics  Results: The  current  study  findings revealed that critical care nurses have  got low knowledge and practice scores and  no significant  correlations  were existed  between years of experience , area of work and their level of knowledge and practice regarding selected positive inotropic medications.. Conclusion: it can be concluded  that critical care nurses have inadequate knowledge and practice regarding selected positive Inotropics. Recommendations : Carrying out educational programs about  nursing  management of  Inotropics and training on calculation of drug doses.

Keywords: Nurses ' knowledge  , Nurses practice  , Positive  Inotropics  administration