Nurses’ knowledge of basic emergency and Ιntensive Care principles in Western Macedonia

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the adequacy of ward-based nurses’ knowledge and skills regarding CPR and rehabilitation of critical patients in Western Macedonia. MATERIAL-Method: During November and December 2005, a three-section (demographic characteristics, CPR and rehabilitation) original questionnaire was distributed to 438 persons of the nursing staff working in the five general hospitals in western Macedonia to be voluntarily and anonymously filled in. Results: 210 nurses answered the questionnaire (47.94% of the total), 30 males and 170 females, having 11.25±7.64 years of experience and 10.52±2.79 average total score (maximum total score 16). Factors related to a higher score were the three-year education, the male sex and the number of attended nursing congresses. The questions with the higher and lower percentage of correct answers concerned tracheal suctioning, the use of ambu (80%) and the use of defibrillator (45.7%). Nurses working in the intensive care unit or the high dependency unit had a better performance. In addition nurses in “Bodosakeio” Hospital – the only one with an intensive care unit – scored significantly higher than the rest (P=0.002). A percentage 93.3% of the participants requested further training in critical nursing. Conclusions: In Western Macedonia knowledge of nurses caring for acutely and critically ill patients on the wards is acceptable but must be improved. The suggested ways to improve structure of care and patients outcome are seminars and practice with rotation in the intensive care unit.