Assessment of Nurses’ Performance Regarding Care of Children Undergoing Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation has become a common surgical procedure worldwide. Children with end stage liver disease or acute liver failure as well as, who suffering from hepatitis C virus and has not responded to conventional medical or surgical intervention, liver transplantation may be the best hope for those children Egypt has the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in the world, whereas, those children have difficulty for responding to conventional medical or surgical intervention. Aim: This study aims to assess nurses’ performance regarding care of children undergoing liver transplantation. Design: Descriptive study was be utilized to conduct the study. Sample: Number and percentage distribution of the studied nurses' according to their characteristics (n=35). Tools: Two tools were used to collect data. Tool I: A structured interviewing questionnaire. Tool II: Observation Checklist. Result: The current study showed that less than one third of studied nurses age range from 25 to less than 30 years old, three fifth have Bachelor degree, and more than half (51.4%) range from 1 to 5 years. In addition, 57.1% did not receive training about liver transplantation. The majority of studied nurses (94.3%) have correct knowledge regarding the liver' location. less than half of studied nurses (42.9%) had correct knowledge regard the conditions that must be met. The more than half of studied nurses (57.1%) had competent practice of immediate care after liver transplantation (ABC). Conclusion: Most of studied nurses had satisfactory knowledge regarding anatomy and function of the liver but had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding liver transplantation donors’ types and conditions. So, the study answered the research question relation between nurses’ knowledge and practices and their characteristics regarding care of children undergoing liver transplantation. Recommendation: Develop an educational program to meet the actual need of nurses regarding care of children undergoing Liver Transplantation.