Assessment of Critical Care Nurses' Performance Regarding Eye Care for Critically Ill Patients

Background: Critically ill patients usually have a wide range of life-threatening systemic disorders that may obscure relatively “minor” ocular problems and so Life-sustaining procedures take precedence in ICU. The critical care nurses and multidisciplinary teams’ lack of knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the ocular system, ocular assessment, and the optimum eye care measures may contribute to the occurrence of ocular problems. Aim : This study aimed to assess critical care nurses' performance regarding eye care for critically ill patients. Research design: A descriptive research design was used to conduct this study. Sample: A purposive sample of 50 critical care nurses in Beni-Suef University Hospital’s intensive care units. Setting: This study was conducted in Beni-Suef University Hospital’s intensive care units. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection (1) Self- Administered Questionnaire, which covered the socio-demographic characteristics of the studied nurses, (2) Eye Care Competence Inventory which included (a) Knowledge Assessment, (b) Attitude Assessment, (3) Eye Care Practices Assessment Sheet which included (a)Methods and techniques of eye care, (b) Eye care practices observational checklist. Results: This study revealed that; about 74 % of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding eye care, while about 92 % of the studied nurses had negative attitude regarding eye care and about 6 % of the studied nurses had satisfactory level of practice regarding eye care. Conclusion : the critical care nurses’ performance regarding eye care needs special educational program to provide optimum eye care. Recommendations: Continuous In-service training programs for critical care nurses are recommended to improve their performance regarding eye care.