Effect of Implementing Nursing Care Guidelines on Nurses' Knowledge for orthopedic patients undergoing External Fixation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant lecturer, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt

2 Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

3 Assistant Professor, Department of orthopedic surgery, Faculty of medicine, Kafrelsheikh university, Egypt

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Pin site infections are a major hazard of external fixation that can be extremely stressful. Nurses are vital
in the prevention of pin site infections. Aim: to assess the effect of implementing nursing care guidelines on nurses'
knowledge for orthopedic patients undergoing external fixation. Design: a quasi-experimental research approach was
used. Sample: A convenient sample of 40 nurses from the orthopaedic departments of Kafrelsheikh University Hospital
and a general hospital was used. Tools: It was a self-administered questionnaire sheet with two parts: part 1 contained
demographic data of the nurses investigated, and part 2 covered nurses' knowledge of the care given to the patients with external fixation. Results: after the implementation of the nursing care guidelines, t Nurses' knowledge increased
statistically significantly (p0.001), and there was a significant association between nurses' educational level and their
knowledge. (p=0.016). Conclusion: Using the developed nursing care guidelines improved nurses' knowledge of caring
for patients with external fixation. Recommendations: Nurses working in orthopaedic wards, particularly those who are
recently employed, should be provided with up-to-date information regarding external fixations through continuing
education programmes.
 

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