RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate nurses' perceived importance of, and performance of intravenous fluid therapy. METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 234 nurses (return rate: 93%) working in 3 small-medium general hospitals. RESULTS: The score for perceived importance of intravenous fluid therapy (3.65+/-0.37) was higher than that of performance (3.45+/-0.39). There were positive correlations between perceived importance and performance (r=.576, p<.001). There were 180 (80.8%) errors in intravenous fluid therapy. Perceived importance and performance scores were higher in nurses who had not experienced medication errors in intravenous fluid therapy. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to develop appropriate strategies to improve perceived importance and performance and enhance safety management during intravenous fluid therapy for nurses in small-medium general hospitals.