Performance and Knowledge of Nurses on the Practice of Pediatric Sedation

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the pediatric sedation knowledge and performance of nurses in tertiary hospitals.Methods: Altogether 120 nurses working in the Pediatric Departments of 4 tertiary hospitals in Busan and Kyungnam participated in this descriptive survey. The questionnaire was developed based on domestic and international guidelines and consisted of 40 questions including 18 questions on knowledge and 22 on the performance level of sedation nursing.Results: The mean score regarding the knowledge of pediatric sedation care was 3.14 points and the mean performance level score was 3.44 points. Questions that received low scores in terms of pediatric sedation care knowledge included items regarding the latest policies, level of sedation, and fasting before sedation. Questions that received low scores in the performance level included items regarding psychological preparation before sedation, sedation education considering developmental level and disease, and items related to blood pressure measurement. Pediatric sedation knowledge scores were higher in the groups with higher age, longer clinical experience, higher educational experience, and awareness of sedation guidelines. Performance scores were significantly higher in the groups having educational experience in pediatric sedation and in those exhibiting awareness of sedation guidelines.Conclusion: Sedation education was significantly associated with both knowledge and performance of sedation nursing, conducting educational programs on pediatric sedation nursing.