Background: Nurses are playing a crucial role in early detection of patients at high risk for acid-base imbalance in critical care units. The aim of the study was to assess nurses' knowledge and practice regarding arterial blood gases interpretation. Research design: Descriptive research design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Setting: The study was conducted in general Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and chest care unit at Benha University Hospital, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A convenient sample of all available nurses in ICU and chest care unit from both sexes and agreed to participate in the study. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used, Tool (I): Nurses' self-administered questionnaire which included two parts to assess A) Nurses' personal data. B) Nurses' knowledge regarding arterial blood gases interpretation. Tool (II): Nurses' practice observational checklist regarding arterial blood gases interpretation. Results: 91.6% of nurses studied had an unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about arterial blood gas interpretation. While 93.7% of nurses studied had an incompetent level of practice regarding arterial blood gases interpretation. Conclusion: Most of studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge and most of studied nurses had incompetent level of practice regarding the arterial blood gases interpretation .There was a positive and significant correlation between total nurses’ knowledge with their total practice regarding blood gases interpretation with p-value of (< 0.05*).Recommendation: Ongoing educational and training programs for nurses about arterial blood gases interpretation and further study is needed about arterial blood gases interpretation with larger sample size to evaluate its effect on nurses’ performance and patients’ outcomes. |
