Evaluating Intensive Care Nurses' Clinical Competence in Eye Care; a Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Aims: Nurses need to have considerable knowledge of and great competence in carefully assessing and correctly diagnosing patientschr('۳۹') eye problems. This study aimed to evaluate intensive care nurseschr('۳۹') clinical competence in eye care. Instrument & Methods: In the cross-sectional descriptive study, ten hospitals were selected by cluster sampling of ۴ cities in Iran in ۲۰۱۵. Four hundred thirty-two intensive care nurses were recruited by convenience sampling. The Eye Care Competence Inventory was employed for evaluating nurseschr('۳۹') eye care knowledge, attitude, and practice. Data were analyzed by SPSS ۱۸ using independent-samples t-test and the Pearson correlation. Findings: The means of participating nurseschr('۳۹') eye care knowledge, attitude, and practice were ۴۳.۳±۱۴.۸۶, ۸۴.۵۶±۱۱.۶۱, and ۷۳.۱۱±۱۷.۱۷, respectively. Nurseschr('۳۹') work experience positively correlated with their eye care knowledge and attitude. There also was a significant positive correlation between nurseschr('۳۹') age and their eye care attitude. Finally, knowledge had significant positive correlations with attitude and practice (p<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Nurseschr('۳۹') knowledge in eye care of ICU patients was moderate, and their attitude and practice were good. Accordingly, developing and implementing continuing education programs for promoting their eye care knowledge, attitude, and practice is strongly recommended.

Keywords:

Clinical Competence , Nurses , Eye Care , Intensive Care Unit