Knowledge and Performance of Critical Care Nurses Toward Nebulizer Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit at Assiut University Hospital

Background: A nebulizer is an important device used to inhalant the drugs to treat some pulmonary diseases. The examination of nurse s knowledge and performance regarding the nebulizer therapy has not been conducted before at Assiut University Hospital. Aim of Study: Asses critical care nurse s knowledge and performance related to nebulizer therapy. Methods: Descriptive design was adapted for this study. The sample of this study consisted of 80 nurses working in three intensive care units (38 nurses in traumatic ICU, 20 nurses in postoperative ICU and 22 in general ICU). Two tools were used to collect the required data; nurses knowledge assessment questionnaire and skills observation checklist related to nebulizer therapy. Results: The findings revealed that (56.2%) of nurses have knowledge about nebulizer therapy at unsatisfactory level (Mean±SD=27.44±12.09) also the findings revealed that (88.8%) of nurses had performance about nebulizer therapy at unsatisfactory level (Mean±SD=29.25±15.97). There was a positive strong relationship between knowledge and performance regarding nebulizer therapy (r=0.277, p=0.013). Conclusions: Nurse s knowledge and performance about nebulizer therapy were unsatisfactory so that the nurses should be trained enough to give effective and safe care to such patients.