Assessment of Nurses’ Performance in Care of Children with Critical Cardiac Conditions

Abstract

Background: Pediatric cardiac critical care nursing plays a central role in the care of pediatric patients with complex congenital, acquired and critical heart condition. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses’ performance in care of children with critical cardiac conditions. Research design: A descriptive research design. Settings: This study was conducted at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Academy affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals and Bahteem hospital for specialist surgeries affiliated to Health Insurance. Subject: A convenience sample of 59 nurses who were working at the previously mentioned study settings. Tools: A pre-designed interview questionnaire sheet, observational checklists and attitude Likert type rating scale to assess nurses’ performance in the care of children with critical cardiac conditions. Results: More than one quarter of the studied nurses had satisfactory knowledge, less than two fifths of them had satisfactory practice and more than one third of them had a negative attitude regarding the care of pediatric patients with critical cardiac conditions. Conclusion: More than half of the studied nurses had an adequate performance regarding the care of the children with critical cardiac conditions. Recommendations: Periodic assessment of nurses' performance in the care of children with critical cardiac conditions and provide appropriate nursing intervention based on their actual educational needs assessment.