Search
"Pediatric nurses were largely confident in their skills but this was not reflected in their knowledge scores" Indarwati et al (2021).

IV catheter care in pediatric patients

Abstract:

Purpose: To examine nursing knowledge and confidence of peripheral intravenous catheter insertion and maintenance in pediatric patients.

Design and methods: An online survey using validated questionnaires was conducted in ten (tertiary and district) hospitals in Indonesia from May to September 2020. Multivariable general linear models were used to investigate associations between nurses’ characteristics and knowledge and confidence on the catheter insertion and maintenance score.

Results: A total of 413 out of 458 pediatric nurses completed the survey (a response rate of 90%). The mean score of the nurse knowledge on insertion was 18.9(±3.3) (maximum score: 21), and the maintenance score was 6.5(±2.0) (maximum score: 12). The median score of the nurse insertion and maintenance confidence was quite high: 44 (IQR = 7) out of 50 and 37 (IQR = 4) out of 45, respectively. Initial patient assessment, catheter securement, site assessment and management of complications are areas where nurse knowledge and confidence are still lacking. Adjusted analysis indicates that training and work experience were significantly associated with the knowledge and confidence score (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Pediatric nurses were largely confident in their skills but this was not reflected in their knowledge scores. Training and experience were important predictors for nursing knowledge and confidence in catheter insertion and maintenance.

Practice implications: The results provide nursing and hospital managers and educational institutions to understand areas of intravenous catheter insertion and maintenance in which nurses lack of knowledge and confidence as well as to formulate tailored and ongoing training to improve nurse knowledge, confidence, practices and optimize patients’ care.

Reference:

Indarwati F, Munday J, Keogh S. Nurse knowledge and confidence on peripheral intravenous catheter insertion and maintenance in pediatric patients: A multicentre cross-sectional study. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Nov 16;62:10-16. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34798582.