Assessment of Nursing knowledge and Practices in Caring of Neonatal Intestinal Obstruction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Pediatric Nursing Department - Faculty of Nursing - Ain shams university- Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Intestinal obstructions are the most common surgical emergencies in the
neonatal period. Nurses play an important role in caring of neonates with intestinal obstructions
includes pre-operative care and post-operative care. This study aimed to: Assess nurses'
knowledge and practices in caring for neonates with intestinal obstruction. Setting: This study
was conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in El-Kasr Al-Ainy University
Hospital and El-Hussein University Hospital. Design: A descriptive design was used. Sample: A
purposive sample of 86 nurses included in the study working at the previously mentioned setting.
Tools: The first tool is a predesigned questionnaire sheet to assess nurses' knowledge about
neonates with intestinal obstruction; the second tool was observational check list to assess nurses'
practices for neonates with intestinal obstruction. Results: Revealed that less than two thirds of
the studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding neonatal intestinal obstruction.
While less than three quarters of the studied nurses had incompetent level of practices regarding
care of neonates with intestinal obstruction. Conclusion: This study concluded that the majority
of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of knowledge. While most of the studied nurses had
incompetent level of practices regarding neonatal intestinal obstruction. There were statistically
significance relation between total level of the studied nurses' knowledge and their practice.
Recommendations: Collaboration and continuing education of the pediatric nurses staff in the
NICUs are vital to improve their knowledge and practices about care provided for neonates with
intestinal obstruction.

Keywords