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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to get information about nurses' knowledge about TPN which is an important practice for nurses.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to aware of nurses' lack of knowledge areas about TPN in a different country.
This study was conducted as a descriptive study to determine the knowledge levels of nurses about Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) in a training hospital. A total of 166 nurses were included the study between July-August 2012. A questionnaire form consisted of 40 items developed by researchers was used. Seventy five points and above were considered to be sufficient. Just 12% of the nurses had 75 and above scores, so nurses’ knowledge level about TPN was seen to be low.
The nurses had information about TPN solution must be clear and non-particulate (99.4%), and the purpose of TPN (97.6%). And 96.4% of the nurses were aware of TPN solutions are favorable environment to grow bacteria/fungi, and recording the changes with the patients. About one third of nurses had information about the conditions that should be applied TPN, the frequency of taking vital signs and central catheter dressing. The nurses had little knowledge about the osmolarity of TPN solutions (23.5%) and performing the patient’s nutritional assessment and anthropometric measurements (21.1%).
The nurses whose professional experience is 10 year and up, education level is master and up, and working in critical care units had been found higher knowledge level, but the difference between scores was not statistically significant. The nurses who read scientific papers/books had been found higher knowledge level and the difference between scores was statistically significant. According to results of this study the education program was planned for nurses.