Strategies used by Nurses in Paediatric Critical Nursing Practice at the Bamenda Health District

Background: This study titled: “Strategies used by nurses for paediatric critical nursing practice” was conducted in selected hospitals in the Bamenda Health district in the North West Region of Cameroon. There is a great burden on critically ill children in developing countries. (7) Greater than 80% of the global 6.64 million annual deaths in children and adolescents in 2017 occurred Low-and middle-income countries LMICs. (19)

The major objective: To assess strategies used by nurses in paediatric critical and emergency care at the Bamenda health district.

Methods: The study population included nurses of the Bamenda health district. This study made use of a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional method that employed both the survey and the observational methods of data collection. Purposive convenience and sampling techniques were used to select the study sites and the study population respectively. The instrument for data collection was a well-structured questionnaire and an observational/interview guide. Pretesting was done to validate these instruments in Kumbo. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.0 and presented using frequency tables and charts.

Results: A relative majority 42 (39.25 %) of nurses were within the age range of 18-28, and 79 (73.83%) were females. Findings on the first steps in an emergency revealed that 64.49% of the respondents said they will first assess the airway. The majority 84(78.5%) of the nurses had no training in critical care while 23(21.50%) had in-service training in critical/emergency care and not in paediatric critical /emergency care. Training of paediatric critical and emergency nurses and building separate ICUs and EDs for critically ill children was identified by 78 (72.90%) as a major area that needs improvement. Chi-square statistical analysis on in-service training in critical/emergency care and successes of care registered showed a significant relationship between in-service training and non-invasive airway management(p= 0.002) and invasive airway management (p= 0.026)at 95% CI.

Conclusion: From the findings, it can be deduced that most of the nursing strategies used by nurses for paediatric critical care are not adequate as many nurses do not have formal training in paediatric critical and emergency care.