Knowledge of Intravenous Therapy Among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Assessment
• Intravenous Therapy

Background:

• Intravenous (IV) therapy is a fundamental nursing skill.
• Assessing nursing students' knowledge is crucial for patient safety.
• Variations in IV therapy knowledge may exist based on academic progression and clinical exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge level of diploma nursing students regarding intravenous therapy.
• To identify factors influencing intravenous therapy knowledge among nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 170 diploma nursing students from a Malaysian private university.
• Data collected via random selection between November 30 and December 30, 2023.
• Statistical analyses performed to determine associations between knowledge and demographic/educational variables.

Main Results:

• 90% of students demonstrated moderate knowledge of intravenous therapy.
• Year 1 students and those on medical placements exhibited lower knowledge levels.
• Significant associations found between knowledge and year of education, clinical placement type, and prior IV assistance experience (P < .05).

Conclusions:

• Nursing students generally have moderate intravenous therapy knowledge, but significant gaps exist.
• Interventions are needed to bolster intravenous therapy knowledge, particularly for junior students and those in medical rotations.
• Educational strategies should consider clinical placement type and prior experience to optimize IV therapy competency.