Nurses’ Knowledge Concerning Chest Pain Management in Emergency Units

Objective(s): The study objectives are to assess knowledge of nurses concerning chest pain management in emergency unit, and to identify the association between nurses' knowledge concerning chest pain management and their demographic characteristics including (age, gender, level of education, years of experience, and training session).

Methodology: Adopted the quantitative design (a descriptive study). The study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital; Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital, and Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. Starting from August 3rd 2014 up to the 30th of September 2014.

To achieve the objectives of the study, a non-probability (purposive) samples of (80) a nurse who was consisted of all nurses who provide emergency nursing care for patients which suffering from chest pain and according to special criteria. The data were collected by self-report with a nurses who provide emergency nursing care for patients which suffering from chest pain in emergency units. Instrument validity was determined through content validity, by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through the use test - retest;" twice within two weeks", which was (0.80). Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean of score) and inferential statistics (Chi-square (x2) test).

Results: The results of the study indicated the mean of scores is moderate significant on all items, a highly percentage of nurses have fair knowledge about chest pain management in emergency unit and there is significant association between age of sample and nurses' knowledge scores. While there is no significant association between genders, level of education, years of experience in emergency unit, training sessions and nurses' knowledge scores.

Conclusion: The researcher can conclude most of nurses that work in emergency unit have inadequate knowledge about chest pain management in emergency unit.

Recommendations: The study recommended the need to develop and implement special training programs for nurses to enhance their skills in the field of nursing care for patients with chest pain.