Abstract

Objective: This research was conducted in order to evaluate the knowledge level about parenteral and enteral nutrition practices of nurses and determine the associated factors with the knowledge.

Method: It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study was carried out at two hospitals. The sample was composed of 142 nurses. Nurses' knowledge levels of enteral and parenteral nutrition practices were assessed using Knowledge Questionnaire for Parenteral Nutrition Practices and Knowledge Questionnaire for Enteral Nutrition Practices.

Results: Mean age of sample was 24.4 and 60.6% had bachelor's degree. Nurses (66.2%) reported that they were not trained for nutrition practices. It was found that nurses had moderate knowledge about enteral and parenteral (13.45±3.31; 7.13±2.80) nutrition practices. Most common incorrectly answered questions were about storage places and duration of enteral nutrition products, residual gastric volume and medication administration through enteral feeding tubes (78.2%, 73.9% and 71.1%, respectively). The least correctly answers were about ideal route for transfusion of parenteral solutions with osmolarities greater than 900 mOsm/l during parenteral nutrition practice (83.8%), the administration of medications through the central intravenous catheters (76.8%) and factors that increase the risk of infection in parenteral practices (64.8%), respectively. Surgical nurses obtained statistically significantly lower means from Knowledge Questionnaire for Enteral Nutrition Practices and Knowledge Questionnaire for Parenteral Nutrition Practices than those working in medical wards or intensive care units (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: The study results have shown that knowledge of nurses about enteral or parenteral nutrition needs to be improved through the theoretical and practical training.