Comparative assessment of high-risk cardiovascular medication knowledge between practising and student nurses: a...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Background:

• High-risk cardiovascular medications require specialized nursing knowledge for safe administration.
• Understanding current knowledge and perceptions among nurses is vital for improving patient care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge and perceptions of practicing nurses and students regarding high-risk cardiovascular medications in the KSA.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' knowledge levels in this critical area.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using an online survey.
• The survey included a knowledge test (true/false, multiple choice) and a perception assessment.
• Four hundred and eighteen nurses and nursing students participated in the study.

Main Results:

• A significant knowledge deficit was observed, with 75.5% of participants demonstrating poor performance (score ≤50%).
• Staff nurses exhibited higher knowledge than students. Specialty and region were associated with knowledge levels, with emergency room nurses and those in the eastern region scoring higher.
• Over 54% of nurses identified insufficient knowledge as a major cause of medication errors, and 75% expressed interest in specialized training.

Conclusions:

• There is a marked knowledge gap in high-risk cardiovascular drugs among nurses in the KSA.
• Nursing pharmacology curricula need to be more clinically oriented with problem-based learning.
• Ongoing pharmacology education focused on high-risk medications is essential to reduce medication errors and ensure patient safety.