Knowledge and Practice of Nurses about End of Life Nursing Care for Critically Ill Patients, Cairo University Hospital: A Suggested Intervention Protocol
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- Category: Vol. 82, March 2014
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Knowledge and Practice of Nurses about End of Life Nursing Care for Critically Ill Patients, Cairo University Hospital: A Suggested Intervention Protocol, HANAN E.H. ZAGHLA, WARDA YOSSEF, ZEINAB E.H. ALI and RASHA A.A. SALIME
Abstract
Background: One of the most difficult situations in nursing practice is end of life care, despite the best efforts, some patients will die. The death may be due to the diseases like cancer and HIV or various other factors. The patients who have to die are called terminally ill patients. These are 'nothing more can be done patients who need the comfort and care of everyone until their death and have a right to safeguard their dignity. Nurses are in a pivotal position to improve care for dying patients and their families by challenging current end of life practices in their settings. However, nurses report a lack of preparation in dealing with end of life care in the critical care environment and need information to improve their level of knowledge and practices.
Aim of the Study: Was to assess the knowledge and practice of nurses about end of life care for critically ill patient.
Methods: To achieve this aim an exploratory descriptive survey design was utilized. A sample of 70 nurses was selected at (Cairo University) hospital. Data pertinent to the study variables were collected from the study sample through questionnaire & observational checklist sheets designed by the researcher. Study results revealed that the nurses' knowledge about end of life nursing care for critically ill patient is unsatisfactory by 63% regarding the total knowledge level and significant statistical differences was shown between the different knowledge subareas. Also the study revealed that the nurses were did end of life nursing care by 76%.
Conclusions: 63% of nurses had an unsatisfactory knowl-edge level regarding end of life nursing care. However, that majority of nurses under the study (76%) did end of life nursing care for critically ill patients.
Recommendations: Conduction of further researches into the area in order to enrich, improve & update nurse's knowledge and practice related to end of life nursing care and provide an educational program regarding end of life nursing care for nurses in the selected critical care units.