Nurse Educator-Led an Educational Intervention on Critical Care Nurses’ Knowledge Regarding Endotracheal Suctioning

Abstract

Background: Studies placed a great emphasis on implementing in-service educational intervention for nurses in order to improve their knowledge regarding critical nursing procedures. Therefore, critical-care nurses need to be more knowledgeable and competent in providing patient care. Hence, the researcher (nurse educator) developed structured educational program that mainly focused on endotracheal suctioning based on evidence-based recommended practice guidelines. Endotracheal suctioning is vitally important nursing procedure in terms of maintaining airway patency and preventing complications. Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of endotracheal suctioning educational program on critical-care nurses' knowledge. Methodology: a quantitative, quasi-experimental one group pre-test and post-test design was used. Convenience sample of 87 critical-care nurses are recruited from three hospitals at AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf City. The study conducted over the period of time that started on December 10, 2019 and ended on January 22, 2020. Results: most of the participants had inadequate to moderate knowledge at pre-test. While after implementing the educational intervention, the participants gained more knowledge and statistical findings indicated that all nurses have adequate knowledge regarding endotracheal suctioning. Conclusion: Endotracheal suctioning is a widely performed technique for mechanically ventilated patients in critical care units. Nurses must be competent and well educated to perform this procedure in order to prevent patient potential complications and achieve best outcomes. Educational intervention that led by nurse educator has a positive influence on nurses' knowledge. Recommendations: the researchers are highly recommended implementing ongoing educational program by using recent clinically recommended evidence that focuses on areas where knowledge expansion can be achieved to staff nurse. In Iraq, creating postgraduate degree focusing on nursing education is a cornerstone to engage in the health care team and articulate new scientific approach by using researches in the clinical setting and apply research findings in clinical practice.