Proposed Protocol for Management of Obstacles Affecting Nurses` Performance in Critical Care Units

Abstract

Proposed Protocol for Management of Obstacles Affecting Nurses` Performance in Critical Care Units By 1Dalia A. Abdellatief , 2Neama F. Saad , 3Basma M. Khalil , 4Salwa O. El – khattab , 5Mayar H. Elsersy Departments of Medical – Surgical1,3 , Administration2 , Faculty of Nursing , Anesthesia and Intensive Care4 ,5, , Faculty of Medicine , Ain Shams University

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to propose a protocol for management of obstacles affecting nurses` performance in critical care units (CCU). Subjects and Method : A descriptive design was utilized in this study, that was conducted in Ain Shams University Hospitals and El Sayed Galal Hospitals in the critical care units for surgery and medicine . A purposive sample composed of 160 critical care nurses with different ages , education and experiences were recruited from the above mentioned settings . The study tools were: 1) Self-administered questionnaire sheet to assess obstacles of nurses` performance ( physical , psychological , administrative and social ) and nurses' knowledge about caring for patients in CCU . 2) An observation checklist to evaluate studied nurses` practices . 3) An opinionaire sheet for studied nurses about the suggested solutions for performance obstacles . Results: Mean age of studied nurses was (34.±7.2) and there were many obstacles affecting their performance in critical care unit. In addition, many solutions were suggested by them for the performance obstacles . Conclusion: There were statistically significant differences between both studied hospitals as regards nurses` performance obstacles (physical, psychological and administrative except for social , insignificant difference was noticed . Furthermore, obstacles mean number of El Sayed Galal Hospital was slightly higher than Ain Shams University Hospitals . In addition , satisfactory level of studied nurses` practices was slightly higher than their knowledge . Recommendations: Further research study should be done to implement and investigate the effect of this proposed protocol for such group of nurses. _______________________________________________________________