Assessment Of Critical Care Nurses’ Awareness Related To Patient Safety Receiving Vasoactive Medications

Abstract

Background: Critical care nurses are accountable for dealing the preparation, timing of initiation, administration, titration, and weaning of vasoactive infusions based on the instructions of the physician so; to confirm patient safety, They need to be sufficiently informed on drugs, drug therapy objectives, and countermeasures to reduce side effects. Aim of the study: This study was conducted to assess nurses’ awareness regarding patients’ safety receiving vasoactive medication in critical care units Design: A descriptive exploratory was utilized to achieve the aim. Setting: This study was conducted at two ICUs as follows (Cardiovascular Care Unit, and Chest Care Unit) affiliated with Makkah Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Sample: A convince sample (50) of all available nurses working in critical care units as mentioned previously. Tools: Data was collected using t[1]hree tools 1) Nurses’ Knowledge Interview Questionnaire.2) Nurses’ level of Practice Observational Checklist.3) Nurses’ Awareness of Medication Safety Scale. Results: The majority of the studied nurses had an unsatisfactory level of total knowledge and about a fifth had an incompetent level of practice. Meanwhile, most of the studied nurses had an unsafe level regarding patients’ medication safety receiving vasoactive medication in critical care units. Conclusion: The expertise, experience, and medication safety of all the nurses in the study who were administering vasoactive medication to patients in critical care units were found to be statistically correlated. Recommendations: Provide nurses with educational and training opportunities to raise their knowledge of patients' medication safety when taking vasoactive medications in critical care units. These programs should be backed by evidence-based practices and guidelines.