Assessing nursing students' knowledge of evidence-based guidelines on the management of peripheral venous catheters: A multicentre cross-sectional study

Background: Inserting Peripheral Venous Catheters (PVCs) is one of the most routinely performed invasive procedures in nursing care and, if not well managed, it could expose patients to bloodstream-related infections. Knowledge of guidelines for the management of PVCs is fundamental to arise nurses and nursing students (NSs)' awareness on the importance of recommendations' adherence for clinical practice improvement. Objective: To determine NSs' theoretical knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for management of PVCs and investigate potential predictive factors associated to recommendations' adherence. Design: Cross-sectional. Settings: The study was carried out (March September 2015) in seven Universities of three Regions of Italy (Marche, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna). Participants: A convenience sample of NSs (n = 1056) was involved. Methods: We collected data using a 10-items validated questionnaire assessing: knowledge of NSs' PVC guidelines and socio-demographic characteristics of the sample. Results: Most participants were female (74.8%), mean age: 22.4 years (DS = 3.9); attending the first, second and third year of Bachelor in Nursing (34.8%; 32.9%; 32.3%, respectively); with at least one year of training experience (32.1%). Most of incorrect answers given by NSs concerned the right way to wash hands before CVPs insertion (33.5%); the replacement of administration set < 24 h when neither lipid emulsions nor blood products have been infused (79.7%); the choice of dressing to cover insertion site (59.3%); the use of steel needles to administer drugs (60.9%); the use of antibiotic ointment (68.7%); the correct concentration of chlorhexidine before PVCs' insertion (70.7%). In multivariate analysis, a higher level of education and an increased number of years of training experience and wards attended, were associated with better test scores. "Infusion set removal after 24 h when lipids or blood products are administered" (75.4%). Conclusions: NSs' overall level of knowledge to some recommendations is inadequate. Nurse educators should emphasize on the importance of Evidence-based guidelines' knowledge in order to promote the translation of theory into practice of NSs.