The effect of nurse training on the improvement of intravenous applications

This research was performed to determine the effect of training on intravenous applications. The research was conducted between March 2004 and December 2004 as a single group pre-test, post-test, quasi- experimental design. The study population was composed of 45 volunteer nurses working in pediatric clinics of three hospitals at Erzurum city, in eastern Turkey. There was no sampling: the research was started with 45 nurses and completed with 40 nurses. Results of the research indicate that after the nurse training there has been a noticeable improvement in the following practices: intravenous peripheral catheter application skills, handwashing, glove wearing, antiseptic use, collaboration with the child, choice of cannula appropriate for the treatment, adequate securement with tape, record keeping of cannula placement time, informing the parents of the reason for cannula placement and the duration of treatment, informing the parents that it will not affect the mobility of the child and that the nurse can be notified in case of pain or discomfort following the procedure. These results may be useful in determining the weaknesses in the nurses' performance and planning their training accordingly.