Nurses’ knowledge and practices regarding oxytocin infusion care for women during labor

Abstract

Background: Oxytocic are the drugs that give power to excite uterine muscles to contract. Between a large numbers of drugs belonging to oxytocic , oxytocin is the important one and is extensively used in clinical practice. Aim of the study: to assess nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding oxytocin infusion care for women during labor . Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted on convenient sample of a total nurses 50. Setting :the study was conducted in labor unit at obstetrics and gynecological department affiliated at Benha university hospital from the end of May to the end of November 2017. Tools: two tools were utilized to collect data ;Tool (I) structured interviewing questionnaire divided in two parts including general characteristics of nurse and assessment knowledge sheet for assessing nurses’ knowledge regarding oxytocin. Tool (II): an observational checklist to assess nurses’ practices during oxytocin infusion . Results: near half ( 44%) of the studied nurses had poor knowledge and two third (60%) of them had unsatisfactory practice regarding oxytocin infusion care . Conclusion: Half of the studied nurses had poor knowledge and unsatisfactory practice and there was a positive correlation between total knowledge and practice score of studied nurses. Recommendations: improve nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding oxytocin and its safe administration.