Determination of knowledge levels of nurses and the factors affecting the level of knowledge in central venous catheter care

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the catheter care given to patients with an inserted central venous catheter in the light of protocols and evidence-based applications.Methods: The universe of the study consisted of 300 nurses working in the surgical and internal medicine units of the Health Sciences University Sultan Abdülhamid Han Training and Research Hospital. Although we planned to reach the whole universe in the sample, a total of 202 nurses were included in the study because 60 nurses left the hospital due to appointment to other provinces, and 38 nurses did not want to participate in the study. Data were collected using the face-to-face interview method through a questionnaire form designed by the researcher.Results: Of the 202 nurses included in the study, 183 (90.6%) were female, and 146 (72.3%) had an undergraduate degree. Nurses who had received information about central venous catheter before and who were aware of the existence of a protocol/procedures/instructions about central venous catheter in the institution were found to get significantly high scores from correct answers that they gave to questions about central venous catheter (p = .001, p = .035)Conclusions: To provide effective central venous catheter care, nurses should have information about the changing and developing care as well as good theoretical knowledge by following current research. In-service training programs in this area should be planned for nurses, and nurses should participate in activities such as congresses, seminars, and courses.