Nurses’ Performance Regarding Non-Invasive Ventilation of Neonates and its Relation to Associated Pressure Injuries

Background: Non-invasive ventilation is an effective way for providing respiratory support for neonates with respiratory insufficiency. It has significantly decreased the need for endotracheal intubation. However, non-invasive ventilation has been associated with pressure injures. Aim: to assess nurses’ performance regarding non-invasive ventilation of neonates and its relation to associated pressure injuries. Design: descriptive correlational research design. Settings: this study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Units of El-Menshawy General Hospital, Kafrelsheikh General Hospital and Kafrelsheikh University Hospital. Subjects: All pediatric nurses (110) who are working at the previously mentioned settings and all neonates (110) received non-invasive ventilation at the time of data collection were involved in the study. Tools of data collection: three tools were used, Tool (I) non-invasive ventilation and pressure injuries questionnaire , Tool (II) nurses' assessment of hyperemia and Tool (III) nurses' practice observational checklists. Results: the current study revealed that less than three-quarters of the nurses had low level of knowledge and none of them had high level of knowledge. Nurses’ practice regarding non-invasive ventilation and skin care was unsatisfactory. There was a highly statistically positive correlation between nurses' total knowledge and nurses’ total practice related to non-invasive ventilation and skin care. Conclusion: the studied nurses had poor level of knowledge and unsatisfactory practice regarding non-invasive ventilation and skin care. Recommendations : educational program and periodic workshops regarding non-invasive ventilation and neonatal skin care should be provided for nurses working at NICU.