Date of Award
11-10-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MSc in Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Khairulnissa Ajani
Second Advisor
Ms. Shireen Shehzad Bhamani
Third Advisor
Ms. Shirin Rahim
Department
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Nurses are the backbone of hospitals, and their most important job is to administer medications to patients, which include routine as well as high alert medications (HAMs). HAMs are defined as a subclass of medications that, when prescribed or administered inappropriately, are more likely to harm patients than other medications, as they have a narrow therapeutic index. Insufficient knowledge and practices of nurses regarding HAMs are one of the contributing factors in medication errors (MEs). Hence, nurses need to have sound knowledge and practice regarding HAMs. No published study could be found on the knowledge and practices regarding HAMs in Pakistan.
/="/">Objectives: The objective of this study was to measure the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding HAMs, including narcotics, concentrated electrolytes (CE), anticoagulants, thrombolytic, look-alike and sound-alike medications (LASA), insulin, and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA), in the emergency department (ED) of a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
/="/">Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive design was utilized to assess the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding HAMs. A total of 92 participants were recruited for the assessment of knowledge and practice, through total population sampling and consecutive sampling techniques, respectively. A survey and an observational checklist were used to investigate the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding HAMs, respectively.
/="/"> Findings: Out of the total participants, 87% had a satisfactory knowledge level of all seven categories of HAMs, while only 27% had a satisfactory level of practice regarding HAMs.
/="/">Conclusion: This cross-sectional study signifies the need for effective theoretical knowledge implementation into clinical practice. Further research on challenges and barriers regarding effective implementation of theory into practice is recommended to overcome the theory-practice gap.
First Page
1
Last Page
69
Recommended Citation
Kabir, A.
(2022). Knowledge and practices related to high alert medications (hams) among nurses working in the emergency department at a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. , 1-69.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/etd_pk_sonam_mscn/18