The Knowledge and Practices of Nurses on Subcutaneous Low Molecular Weight Heparin Injection Administration

Aim: This descriptive study carried out to determine the knowledge and practices of nurses on subcutaneous (SC) low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) administration. Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 77 nurses working in two hospitals in a province and 66 volunteer nurses were included in the study. Data were collected with a survey questioning descriptive characteristics and SC LMWH of nurses and an observation form including SC LMWH administration steps. The data were evaluated by numbers, percentages and chi-square test. Results: It was determined that 45.5% of the nurses were in the age group of 30-35, 54.5% of them had associate degree and 81.8% of them were not educated about heparin administration. It was observed that 58.9% of nurses who indicated that hands should be washed in SC injections did not wash their hands, 36.8% of nurses who stated that they should wear gloves did not wear gloves, 43.1% of them who stated that patients should be informed before the procedure did not make an explanation and 64.5% of them who indicated that injection site rotation should be made did not rotate. It was also observed that 24.4% of nurses who stated that the injection angle should be 90° did not use this angle, 87.1% of nurses who indicated that the airlock technique must be used in SC injections did not use this technique, 11.5% of nurses who stated that the needle should not be aspirated did aspirate the needle, all of the nurses who indicated that heparin should be applied slowly did it fast and 27.5% of nurses who stated that pressure should be applied on the site did not do that. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that the nurses did not transform their theoretical knowledge on SC LMWH into practice enough. It could be suggested that solution-oriented trainings can be planned by determining the reasons for not transferring the theoretical knowledge into practice.