Knowledge and practice of nurses about nursing care before and after cardiac catheterization

This study aimed to assess knowledge and practice of nurses about nursing care before and after cardiac catheterization

The most common cause of death in most countries around the world is cardiovascular disease. Coronary angiography is an invasive procedure that is used to diagnose and/or treatment of coronary artery disease. Considering complications of cardiac catheterization, nursing care is of great importance in preventing and identifying complications. Standards are the least acceptable, expected and achievable levels of performance based on which it is possible to evaluate performance. Nurses and health care providers should work according to standard protocols.

This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 65 nurses who were selected by census sampling method and based on inclusion criteria from cardiac catheterization wards of selected hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected by a questionnaire and a checklist prepared in accordance with the standards provided by the Ministry of Health and the Iranian Nursing Organization. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 21 using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Most of participants were female (63 percent). The mean score of knowledge about nursing care before and after angiography were 10.95±1.30 and 15.23±1.88, respectively. The mean score of performance about nursing care before and after angiography were 26.16±2.92 and 25.77±4.78, respectively; according to these findings the knowledge and practice of nurses about nursing care before and after angiography were evaluated as good. There was no statistically significant difference between female and male nurses in terms of knowledge and practice. Also, no statistically significant relationship was found between the knowledge and practice, before and after angiography.

Although most nurses had good scores of knowledge and practice about nursing care before and after angiography, but due to lack of some principles of care in their performance, further studies is recommended. Also, it is necessary for managers to provide nurses with care protocols.