Introduction: Peripheral Intravenous Cannula (PIVC) placement can cause undesirable effects, such as phlebitis. Poor PIVC care can irritate tunica intima layers of the superficial vein. The incidence of phlebitis had become a national nursing indicator, with a standard of less than 0.9%. The standard care of the patient with intravenous in- cludes a routine PIVC assessment. However, what the assessment should be based on remained unclear. The objec- tive of this study is to assess nurses’ skill in performing PIVC assessment. Methods: This is a descriptive study using an audit-based approach. It is conducted in a pediatric hospital. Nine pediatric wards were identified via stratified sampling methods. A total of 86 registered nurses consented to participate in this study. A validated research instru- ments (α = 0.83), PIVC Assessment Skill (PIVC-AS) checklist is used to audit nurses in performing PIVC assessment. PIVC-AS consists of nine audit criteria (AC), AC1: communication skill, AC2 until AC7: PIVC assessment skill, AC8: documentation skill and AC9: PIVC management. Results: Nurses communication skills to patient as in AC1 shows compliance rate of seventy six percent. The compliance rate can be explained that this study was done in the pedi- atric setting. Participants may skip this communication due to handling with a pediatric patient. More than eighty eight percent nurses comply with AC2 to AC6 which indicated their excellent skill in performing PIVC assessment every shift. However, in the AC7, only sixty seven percent comply to palpate PIVC area for any evidence of venous cord and warmth. Conclusion: This study concludes that communication between nurses and pediatric patients prior to PIVC assessment often missed out by nurses. The palpation techniques also not been carried out as compared to observation technique in pediatrics setting. Palpation technique is crucial to detect ‘warmth to touch’ because it differentiates between the early and medium stage of phlebitis.
Introduction: The final year of the study period is the time students should be in the mood of ready to enter working life. There are concerned that newly graduated nurses do not have the necessary skills and competence once they enter the working life. The final year nursing students seldom have confidence because they were not getting enough experience in the clinical posting. The soft skill and not being able to perform in the clinical area and their readiness to work in real working life. Thus, this study is to assess final year and newly graduated students’ readiness to enter the real working life environment after graduated from the institution. Methods: This study using cross-sectional sur- vey design using convenience sampling method. Adapted questionnaire is used and distributed via on-line Google form to all final year nursing and newly graduated of nursing students Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Results: Total 71 respondents (63.38% third-year and 21.12% newly graduated students) responded to this survey. 68 students (95%) were ready to enter the real working life and there were two students (5%) that still not ready to perform on their own after the course finished. Majority 70 (98.59%) find that early exposure to a real working environment was important to polish student soft skill and enhance student performance skill in doing any procedure. 96% responded that early exposure will develop student competency in leadership qualities to guide their teamwork and adaptation from the real scenario on how they will perform in their work in the future. Complete facilities in the practical area can make the student feel excited to start working in clinical area is the possible factor rated in more than half of the responded (57.7%). Conclusion: Most of the participant is ready to apply their knowledge and skill in a real working situation.
Introduction: Phlebitis may localise to the insertion site or travel along the vein. The risk of phlebitis is higher in children as they have thin and weak blood vessels and move continuously due to the pain associated with insertion. Therefore, regular assessment of the risk of developing phlebitis is crucial. This review aimed to identify infusion phlebitis assessment tool used in the paediatric setting. Methods: Electronic databases used were Scopus, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. A total of ten studies which assess the development of infusion phlebitis on hos- pitalised children included in this reviewed. Study findings were discussed and concluded with a recommendation for clinical practice and future studies. Results: Phlebitis development rate was the primary outcome measures in ten studies. Of ten studies, six provided no actual definition of phlebitis. Eight reported phlebitis incidence and/or severity, eight used a scale and two used a definition alone in assessing the development of phlebitis. This review identified five different phlebitis assessment scales. Conclusion: Although there are applicable phlebitis scales can be used for paediatric setting, Limited studies have been conducted on infusion phlebitis assessment method in chil- dren. Therefore, it is suggested that more studies and vigorous test needed to identify applicable assessment tools in paediatric setting.
Introduction: Medication error always happens among the nurses either the trained out staffs nor in nursing students. These errors may harm any patient that is involved and it may lead tolegislation issue. Therefore, this study aims to identify nursing students knowledge and assurance in medication administration. Methods: This study using a cross-sectional survey design using a convenience sampling method. Ethical approval was obtained from The Fac- ulty of Medicine and Health Sciences Ethical Committee. Adapted questionnaire divided into three sections with 14 multi-choice questions for each section (pharmacology, drug management and drug calculation) score (0-14) and Self perceived certainty on their correct answer were scored (1-high certainty, 2-moderate and 3-low certainty). Questionnaires were distributed through the online google form to Diploma of Nursing students of year two and three of Faculty Medicine and Health Science of University Malaysia Sabah. Result reported in mean (+SD). Results: Total of71 students volunteered responded to the survey. 42.3% of respondents (n=30) are the Year Two students and 57.7% (n=41) are the Year Three students.In knowledge about pharmacology mean score was 9.33 (2.37) and their certainty mean score was 1.9 (0.55), Drug management mean score was 8.42 (2.55) and their certainty mean score was 1.90 (0.45), While for their drug calculation mean score was 8.04 (3.03) and certainty mean score was
2.13 (0.51). Conclusion: Knowledge in drug management and drug calculation both were below the appropriate score (less than 9) respectively. These indicate that more practices and training on the medication administration should be done to the students in order familiar with the context of medication administration. Their certainty level found moderate indicate that their confidence level on medication administration should be reinforced. Nursing educators need to facilitate the students in their learning process and training periods to gain their confidence before their graduation.