NURSES' KNOWLEDGE REGARDING TRACTION CARE IN ORTHOPEDIC UNIT AT MANSOURA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University.

2 Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing-Mansoura University

Abstract

Traction is one of the most common methods of immobilization. It is commonly used for treating patients with hip or femur fractures in orthopedic departments worldwide.Each year, more than 340,000 cases of hip fractures occur in America and 1.6 million cases worldwide, out of which 13% to 37% lose their lives . Traction is a very stressful situation for patient to endure and it requires a competent nurse to meet the patient’s needs and to prevent complications. Due to the complicated and vital role executed by orthopedic nurses in the care of patient with traction and the need to prevent complications due to enforced immobility, this study aims to assess the nurse’s knowledge in orthopedic units at Mansoura university. Methods: A descriptive correlational research design was conducted in orthopedic units at Mansoura university hospitals. The data were collected using a questionnaire interview sheet consists of (Sociodemographic characteristics &Traction Nurses' Knowledge questionnaire). The questionnaire was designed after an extensive literature review. The subjects of the present study consist of all available nurses working in the orthopedic units and accepted to participate in the study at previously mentioned above setting. Available nurses working in orthopedic units were entered in the study (40) nurses. Results: the results revealed that Less than three quarters of studied nurses had fair knowledge level about care of patient with traction. There was a significant relation between knowledge and level of education. There was no significant relation between nurses' knowledge and age, years of experience. Conclusion: There is an increasing need to introduce effective educational intervention for orthopedic nurses to enhance their knowledge about care of patient with traction. Recommendation: Encouraging continuous supervision, guidance and evaluation of nurses' performance in caring of patients with traction in the hospital to achieve and maintain the best nursing care for patients.

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