Nurses’ Role in Managing Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Undergoing Oxygen Therapy

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with major morbidity and mortality. Oxygen therapy is used continuously in patients with COPD because of long standing hypoxemia. Delivery of oxygen therapy is imported to correct oxygen contraction to return it to normal by many methods of oxygen delivery according to the patients condition. The nurse has important role in caring for patients who receive oxygen therapy as the nurse must closely monitors the patient to ensure proper oxygen administration, work to monitor the effects of oxygen therapy and to maintain safe effective administration of oxygen. Aim of the Study This study aimed to: Assess the nurses' role in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing oxygen therapy through the following: 1-Assessing nurses’ knowledge regarding their role in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing oxygen therapy. 2-Assessing nurses’ practice in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing oxygen therapy. Research question: 1. What are the nurses’ knowledge regarding their role in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing oxygen therapy? 2. What are the nurses’ practice regarding their role in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing oxygen therapy? Subjects and Methods: A convenience sample of all available nurses (no=30), (from chest I.C.U.) The nurses had different qualification and years of experiences. Nurses with different age and qualifications. The following tools were used to accomplish the purpose of the study: 1-Self administered questionnaire sheet: It was used to assess nurse's demographic characteristics and level of knowledge regarding to managing COPD patient undergoing oxygen therapy, it developed by the researcher based on the related literature. 2-Oxygen Therapy Observational Checklist: It was developed by the researcher and used for assessing the nurse's practice regarding their role in managing COPD patients undergoing oxygen therapy. The important findings obtained from the study can be summarized as following: • The highest parentage of nurses (43.33%) their ages ranged from 25 to less than 40 years and (53.33%) of them were secondary diploma. 50% of them did not attend training course about managing COPD patient undergoing oxygen therapy. • Two third of nurses (66.70%) had unsatisfactory total