Enhancing nurses ' competency to maintain technologic devices at critical care units

The danger in critical care units technology and unplanned device removal presents a different life threatening scenario and tremendous burden for the nurses. Maintaining technologic access was the core problem identified in this study. This study aims to assess the enhancing nurses competency to maintain technologic devices at critical care units. A quasi experimental design was used. This study was carried out at critical care units of El-Demerdash Hospital [General Surgery] and Children hospital, affiliated to Ain Shams University. A purposive sample composed of 65 nurses, 25 were caring for children and rest of them 40 were caring for adults, and 45 critically ill patients [28 adult and 17 children] added to 22 physician from the above mentioned settings. Tools: 1] Self administered questionnaire to assess nurses' knowledge [pre/post tests], 2] An observation checklist to assess nurses practice [pre/post tests], 3] Patients assessment sheet [pre/post tests], and 4] Opinnionair sheet for physicians and nurses [pre test]. There are statistically significant differences between nurses' knowledge and practice in pre/post tests regarding to technologic devices maintenance at critical care units, added to significant reduction in the percentage of removing technologic devices among the studied patients in post tests. Enhancing nurses' competency through training program was helpful to maintain technologic devices at critical care units . Educational program should be held periodically for critical care nurses about technologic device maintenance. Further studies should be done to assess the long term effects of such program on patient's quality of life at the critical care units

Stress among mothers of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units and its correlates

A neonatal intensive care unit is a highly stressful environment to most parents. The majority of mothers with babies admitted to neonatal intensive care unit are faced with the possibility of losing them. Mothers become less tense and worried when they get simple information about the unit and their baby condition. To assess stressors facing mothers of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units [NICU] and its correlates. A descriptive cross sectional design was used in this study carried out at NICUs at Ain Shams University hospitals, and Elmataria Teaching Hospital. It comprised 200 mothers and their neonates. The most common diagnoses among the neonates were respiratory distress syndrome, and preterm infant. About two thirds of the mothers [63.0%] had no formal education, and were housewives [64.5%]. Half of the infants [50.0%] had first rank birth order. Two tools were used for data collection, namely an interview questionnaire, and the parental stressor scale. Awareness of mothers about indication for infant admission was known by 70.0%. The mean number of daily visits was 1.3 +/- 0.5 SD. The most common aim of the visit [53.0%] was breastfeeding. The scores of stress were highest due to lights and sounds in NICU [13.5 +/- 2.8], followed by infant appearance and behavior [31.5 +/- 6.0]. Mothers with frequent daily visits, 3 or more, and whose aim was breastfeeding had the lowest stress scores, 54.2 +/- 16.2 and 66.1 +/- 11.0, Respectively, p<0.05. Also, lack of awareness about the reason of previous admission in neonatal intensive care unit, and longer length of stay of the infant, for two or more weeks, were associated with low stress scores. Statistically significant moderate positive correlation was revealed between lights and sound with the infant appearance and behavior subscales [r=0.58]. Having health problems during pregnancy was the only statistically significant independent positive predictor of the score of stress, while infant's birth order, number of daily visits, and length of stay were statistically significant independent negative predictors of stress score. Mothers had stress due to the admision of their babies to the NICU, related to mother's knowledge about indication of admission, and problems during pregnancy. Mothers should be encouraged from the earliest contact to be involved, and visiting hours must be flexible. Mothers expected to have high-risk infants need close monitoring