Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge towards Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at Al-Najaf City's Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Objective: aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to find out the association between the knowledge scores of the nurses and their demographic variables of age, gender, level of education, years of experience, and training session. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted on the al-najaf city's teaching hospital (Al-Sader Medical City). Starting in December 11th, 2012 to July 30th, 2013. A non-probability (purposive) sample of (85) nurses, those who were working in the coronary care unit, intensive care unit ,emergency unit, respiratory care unit, operation room and surgical ward, and medical ward, at al-Sader medical city. The data were collected through the utilization of the developed questionnaire, and it is consist two part, Part 1 Included (7) items, and Part 2 (39) items. Data collected by means of structured self-report technique with the subjects. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined through pilot study and validity determined through a panel of experts consist of (13) experts. Results: revealed that majority of nurses had poor knowledge regarding cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There was non-significant association between the nurses' knowledge toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure and their gender, age group. The study result indicate that there was significant association between the overall nurses' knowledge toward CPR and their Academic qualification. Also there is no relationship between the nurses' knowledge toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure and their Years of work experience, Area of Assignment, Formal training, and CPR Performance on patient. Conclusion: The researcher can conclude that the majority of the nurses had poor knowledge concerning cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Recommendation: The study recommends that the referral hospitals should develop procedure manuals that provide detailed information about all the most recent advances, discoveries and practices in CPR The procedure manual should be subject to an annual audit, and active steps should be initiated to remedy identified deficiencies.