Assessment of Critical Care Nurse's Knowledge and Practices Regarding Care of Patients Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract
Background: Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is indicated to prevent the adverse effects of malnutrition in patients who are unable to obtain adequate nutrition by oral or enteral routes. However, it may cause many life threatening compli-cations. Therefore, critical care nurses not only required to know how to assess nutritional status, but also monitor patients for any adverse effects in general condition, provide interven-tions, and develop a plan of care.
Aim of the Study: To assess critical care nurse's knowledge and practices regarding care of patients receiving TPN at Cairo University Hospitals.
Material and Methods:
Research design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized in the current study.
Research questions:
A-What is the level of critical care nurse's knowledge regard-ing care of patients receiving TPN at Cairo University Hospitals?
B-What is the level of critical care nurse's practices regarding care of patients receiving TPN at Cairo University Hospi-tals?
Sample: A purposeful sample of 60 critical care nurses from different critical care units with a minimum one year of experience, different educational categories was included in the present study.
Setting: The study was carried out at different Critical Care Units at Cairo University Hospitals.
Tools of Data Collection: Tool 1: Nurse's personnel and background data sheet that included gender, age, marital status, place of work, educational level, years of experience in nursing and ICU and training courses concerning TPN. Tool 2: Nurse's knowledge assessment questionnaire about TPN to assess nurse's knowledge regarding indication, com-plication and nursing care of patients receiving TPN and, Tool 3: Critical care nurse's observational check list about TPN regarding care of patients receiving TPN.
Results: The majority (92%) of the studied sample had unsatisfactory knowledge with a mean of 20.22±4.99, and the entire studied sample (100%) had unsatisfactory practice level with a mean of 91.22±6.72, respectively. High significant statistical differences were found in the mean knowledge scores in relation to gender, attended courses, age category, and department. High significant statistical differences were found in the mean practice score in relation to marital status, attended courses, department, and years of experiences in nursing. A high significant statistical strong correlation were found between total mean knowledge scores and total mean practice scores (r=0.46, p=0.00). However, no significant correlations were found between years of experience, age and their level of knowledge and practice regarding total parenteral nutrition.
Conclusion: In spite of having vital role by critical care nurses in assessment and management of critically ill patients receiving TPN, results of the present study indicated that critical care nurses have inadequate knowledge and practice regarding care of patients receiving TPN.
Recommendation: Updating knowledge and practice of critical care nurses through carrying out continuing educational programs about nursing management of TPN and its compli-cations, strict observation of CCN practice when caring for patients receiving TPN, Provision of guidance to correct of poor practices, ensure patient safety and provide cost effective care and finally, replication of this study on larger probability sample selected from different geographical locations.