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Paediatric fever management: continuing education for clinical nurses
Anne M Walsh1, Helen E Edwards, Mary D Courtney
1School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia. am.walsh@qut.edu.au
Nurse Education Today
|September 27, 2005
Summary
Pediatric nurses show mediocre knowledge of fever management. Factors like experience and practice level impact understanding, but negative beliefs persist, highlighting the need for ongoing education for all nurses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Clinical Practice
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Fever management is a critical aspect of pediatric nursing care.
- Understanding nurses' knowledge and beliefs is essential for improving patient outcomes.
- Current educational and experiential factors may influence fever management practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how practice level, additional pediatric education, and experience length affect nurses' knowledge and beliefs about fever management.
- To identify specific factors influencing nurses' understanding and attitudes towards fever and its treatment.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive survey was conducted with 51 nurses in a metropolitan pediatric hospital.
- Data collected included nurses' level of practice, education, and years of experience.
- Self-report measures assessed knowledge and beliefs regarding fever and its management.
Main Results:
- Nurses demonstrated mediocre knowledge of fever management (Mean 12.4/20).
- Higher practice levels and 1-4 years of experience correlated with greater knowledge.
- Negative beliefs impacting practice were identified and were not influenced by knowledge, experience, or education.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric nurses are not consistently expert fever managers.
- Knowledge gaps and negative beliefs affect nursing practice regardless of education or experience.
- Continuous education is crucial for all pediatric nurses to ensure adherence to evidence-based fever management protocols.
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