Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Skin Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit an Assessment Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Ain Shams University.

2 Department of Pediatric Nursing, Fayoum University.

Abstract

Background: The neonate's skin is the body's most significant protective system. Neonatal skin injuries are linked to admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU). Aim: This study aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge and practice regarding skin care in NICU. Design: A descriptive design was utilised. Subjects: A convenient sample composed of 80 nurses who were working in the NICUs and providing care for neonates in NICUs. Settings: The study was conducted at NICUs at El-Fayoum University Hospital and El-Fayoum Public Hospital.Tools of data collection: Two tools were used as the following:1-Predesigned Questionnaire format to assess characteristics of the studied nurses and their knowledge regarding skin care and Braden Q Scale. 2-Observational checklists to assess nurses' practice regarding skin care such as routine skin care, ...Results: The findings revealed that more than one third of the studied nurses their ages are ranged from 20 < 25 years, with the mean age 25.2±1.4years, more than two-fifth of them had 5<10 years of experience with the mean experience years7.3±1, more than one-third of them had good total knowledge and more than half of them had incompetent total practice about skin care in NICU. Conclusion: Findings of the current study, it can be concluded that most of studied nurses had good knowledge about skin care for neonates and were incompetent in their practice regarding skin care for neonates at neonatal intensive care units. Recommendations: In-service training, regular educational programs or refresher courses about skin care should be developed for nurses in NICU, training of Braden Q Scale assessment and recorded schedule for nurses that working in NICU and further studies to assess the risk factors and barriers that affect on nurses' application to skin care for neonates in NICU.

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