Knowledge of nursing students about central venous catheters

Abstract

Background/Aim. Central venous catheters (CVC) are at the crucial importance, particulary in the intensive therapy units. In order to handle a CVC safely, nursing students need to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge during the course of their studies. The aim of the study was to establish theoretical knowledge of nursing students about the procedures of nurses in placing and removing a central venous catheter (CVC), dressing the catheter entry point, the reasons for measuring central venous pressure (CVP), possible complications and risk factors for developing infections related to CVC. Methods. The questionnaire developed specifically for this cross-sectionl study was handed out to 87 full-time students and 57 part-time students. Results. The results show that all the surveyed nursing students know why chest radiography is carried out when inserting a catheter, have relatively good knowledge of CVC insertion points, procedures carried out in case of a suspected catheter sepsis and complications and risk factors for the development of infections related to CVC. However, the study show that the majority of students have insufficient knowledge of the procedures accompanying insertion of a catheter, signs that indicate correct functioning of CVC, frequency of flushing a catheter when it is not in use and the reasons for introducing an implanted CVC. Conclusion. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the second-year nursing students have insufficient knowledge of CVC. In order to correctly and safely handle a CVC, good theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience are needed. The authors therefore believe that, in future, the classes should be organized in smaller groups with step-by-step demonstrations of individual procedures in handling a CVC, and the students encouraged to learn as actively as possible.Uvod/Cilj. Centralni venski kateteri (central venous catheters - CVCs) veoma su vazni, narocito u jedinicama za intenzivnu negu. U cilju pravilnog rukovanja CVCs neophodno je da studenti nege steknu i teoretsko i prakticno znanje tokom svojih studija. Cilj ove studije bio je da se kod studenata nege utvrdi nivo njihovog teoretskog poznavanja postupaka nege u postavljanju i izvlacenju CVC, previjanju ulaznog mesta katetera, razloga za merenje centralnog venskog pritiska (central venous pressure - CVP), mogucih komplikacija i faktora rizika od nastanka infekcija od CVCs. Metode. Uradjen je upitnik specijalno za ovu unakrsnopoprecnu studiju i podeljen redovnim (n = 87) i vanrednim (n = 57) studentima. Rezultati. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da svi posmatrani studenti nege znaju zasto se sprovodi radiografija pluca prilikom postavljanja katetera, relativno dobro znaju o mestima ubacivanja CVC, procedurama koje se sprovode kada se sumnja u sepsu od katetera i komplikacije i faktore rizika od nastanka infekcija od CVC. Studija, medjutim, pokazuje da vecina studenata nedovoljno poznaje postupke ubacivanja katetera, pokazatelje pravilnog funkcionisanja CVC, ucestalosti ispiranja katetera kada je on van upotrebe, kao i razloge za ubacivanje ugradjenog (implantiranog) CVC. Zakljucak. Prema dobijenim rezultatima ove studije moze se zakljuciti da studenti II godine nege nedovoljno znaju o CVCs. Za pravilno i bezbedno rukovanje neophodno je dobro teoretsko znanje o CVCs i odgovarajuce prakticno iskustvo. Autori, zato, veruju da bi ubuduce nastava trebalo da se organizuje u manjim grupama, uz postupno pokazivanje svakog pojedinacnog postupka rukovanja sa CVC i motivaciju studenata za aktivno ucenje.