Post-Cardiac Surgery Nurses’ care Practice for patients Underwent Open Heart Surgery and Associated Factors in Selected Cardiac Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Whatever the best standard technologies and procedures were used, open heart surgery outcome worldwide is poor with the absence of standard nursing care. In addition, there is scarcity of studies regarding post open heart surgery care practice status among nurses in Ethiopia. Objective: This study was aimed to assess Post-cardiac surgery Nurses’ care Practice after Open Heart Surgery and Associated factors. Methods: mixed study design was employed. Both non-participant observation and key informant in-depth interview was used to collected data from purposively sampled 34 nursing staff working in selected cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Standardized observational checklist was used to assess level of practices and key informant in-depth-interview by using semi- structured interview guidelines from March 2023 to May 2023. Descriptive analysis was conducted for quantitative parts and thematic analysis was for qualitative. Finally, both quantitative and qualitative findings were triangulated under each themes and presented in text narration, tables and figures Result: The response rate was 100%. Only 26.5% of them had cardiac care related training and most of them had experience of less than three years in post-cardiac surgery intensive care unit. About 62% of nurses practiced inadequately. Professional qualification issues, organizational conditions challenges, and continuous professional development were noted as factors affecting nurses’ care practice. Conclusion and recommendation: at all stages of post-cardiac surgery, level of nurses’ practice was very inadequate among nurses working in post-cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Giving more attention in specialized professional qualification with adequate number of post-anesthesia care providers, strengthening continuous professional development, being equipped with necessary infrastructures and making conducive work environment with good managing style are core measures to overcome the difficulties. Keywords: open heart surgery, associated factors, post cardiac surgery nurse’s care practice