Assessment of Nursing Care Skills in Neonatal Unit: A Cross Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Objective: Increased hospital treatment is required to reduce neonatal mortality in low/middle-income (LMIC) countries. Nurses are vital for providing safe and efficient treatment, but a shortage of nurses and high patient workloads can lead to missed treatment. We aimed to evaluate thecare provided to newborns and finding missing care using direct observation methods.

Material and Methods:  Cross sectional observational study. The sample size was 133 which were calculated through Slovin’s formula. An adopted research tool was used which contain two sections. Section I included demographic data of nurses and neonates admitted in the ward. Section IIwas an Observational checklist on neonate’s care with “Yes” “NO” which include 5 main themes that had sub points.

Result:  Handing over the baby was less fifty five percent. Member not assesses the patient at the end of shift 54.1% nurses done this and 45.1% missed this task. Intravenous drug administration with a septic technique was 42 percent. Counselling of kangaroo mother care was 45.9 percent done and 54 percent missed.

Conclusion:  Research addresses a significant gap in global literature regarding quantification of nurse’s treatment using direct observational methods. We found considerable variability in the implementation of the task with potentially significant consequences for well-being and health of patients. The concentration of nursing tasks in babies was less than 60% on average. Tertiary care setting environment lacks a large proportion of nursing care with potentially serious effects on patient health and outcomes.