Background

The clinical observations made by critical care nurses are vital for maintaining patient safety and making appropriate decisions in the care of patients who are critically ill. Evaluating the reliability of observations and applying analytical thinking are essential elements of patient observation. Previous studies of critical care nurses' knowledge have focused either on specific aspects of patient observation or on critical care nursing in general; therefore, the findings are not comprehensive.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate critical care nurses' level of knowledge in patient observation and to explore the factors that are associated with it.

Study design

A cross-sectional knowledge test survey with critical care nurses in Finland was used.

Methods

Data were collected in seven adult intensive care units in all five university hospitals in Finland between September 2017 and January 2018 by using a knowledge test (20 items) developed for this study. All critical care nurses were eligible to participate. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

Altogether, 372 nurses responded (response rate 49%). Their average scores in the knowledge test were 77% (mean 15.29/20, SD 2.41) for correct answers, 75% (mean 8.2/11, SD 1.54) in the sum-variable "Evaluating the reliability of observation" and 79% (mean 7.08, SD 1.45) for "Analytical thinking." A higher knowledge level was associated with education in special tasks in an intensive care unit.

Conclusion

The critical care nurses' knowledge level was considered to be suboptimal. There is a need for improving knowledge of patient observation among Finnish critical care nurses to ensure safe and good quality care.

Relevance to clinical practice

Finnish critical care nurses' knowledge of patient observation could be improved by providing specific continuing education for new nurses entering intensive care units and for experienced critical care nurses throughout their career.