Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Bundle among Mechanically Ventilated Patient: Nurses' Perception

Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication in critically ill patients; it can prolong intubation, increase intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and increase mortality to twice the level of patients who do not develop VAP .Ventilator bundle was a group of evidence based practices that when implemented together for all patients on mechanical ventilation will result in dramatic reductions in the incidence of VAP. Aim of the study: Assessing nurses' perception regarding ventilator associated pneumonie bundle. Design: A descriptive exploratory design wasutilized. Setting: The study was carrier out in critical care units (surgical ICU, general ICU & CCU) at El Fayoum Universityz Hospitals. Study subjects:convenience sample of 40 nurses were included in the study. Data collection tools: Data were obtained through five main tools; demographic data tool, nurses’ knowledge questionnaire, nurses' observational checklist, nurses' perception questionnaire and factors affecting nurses' perception questionnaire. Results: Three quarter of the study nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge and more than three quarters of them had incompetent level of practice regarding VAP bundle. About two thirds of the studied nurses hadnegative perception regarding VAP bundle. There were many factors affecting nurses' perception regarding VAP bundle as; nurses' related factors, health setting related factors and patients' relatedfactors. There was statistically significant difference between the nurses' perception, level of knowledge and practice regarding VAP bundle. As well there was statistically significant difference between the nurses' perception regarding ventilator associated pneumonia bundle and theirlevel of knowledge and practice. Recommendations: Designing in-service training and educational program to improve nurses' knowledge and practice regarding VAP bundle. The study should bereplicated on large sample& in different hospitals setting in order to generalize the results.