Monitoring Nurses' Performance for Prevention of Necrotizing Entercolitis of Preterm Infant at Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC) is a life-threatening illness exclusively affecting neonate and has a mortality rate as high as 50%,also pathophysiology of NEC is inflammation of the intestine lead to bacterial invasion causing cellular damage , death and necrosis of the colon & intestine which lead to intestinal perforation causing peritonitis, sepsis, and death. Moreover, the signs and symptoms of NEC is include poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal tenderness, these newborn is typically admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit .Meanwhile, the nursing staff plays a key role to prevent NEC through frequent assessment, because newborn condition change quickly (Jacob, et al., 2019). Data were collected by using two tools, the first tool was structured questionnaire sheet to assess nurses characteristic and their knowledge regarding prevention of necrotizing enterocolities , the second tool was observation checklist to assess nurses’ performance to prevent necrotizing enterocolities. 1-Pre designed questionnaire Sheet :( Appendix I ) It was designed and developed by the researcher in Arabic language after reviewing the related literature at Lissauer,et al.,(2016)and David,et al., (2015) and revised by supervisions .The questions presented in the form of closed ended questions and multiple choices to assess nurses knowledge about necrotizing entercolitis, it covered the following parts: