Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge Regarding Oxytocin Administration during Labor at Maternity Hospitals in Al-Kut City

Abstract

Objectives of the study: To assess nurses knowledge regarding oxytocin administration during labor and
delivery in maternity hospitals, and to find out the relationship between nurses knowledge and studied
variables (age, level of education, work times (shift) experience year, training course in nursing field).
Methodology: Descriptive analytic study was conducted on non-probability sample (convenient) of (70) nurses
to assess nurse’s knowledge related to oxytocin administration. The study is conducted at Al- kut Hospital for
Gynecology Obstetrics and Pediatrics and Al- Zahraa Teaching Hospital during periods 5th February to 24th
April 2013, A questionnaire was used as a tool of data collection to fulfill with objectives of the study and
consisted of three parts, including demographic characteristics (age, level of education, social status, work
times (shift ), professional characteristics (experience year, license of midwifery practice, Practice midwifery in
community, In service education, Number training course in nursing field) and nurse’s knowledge related to
oxytocin: (Action, Administration of oxytocin , Adverse effect of oxytocin on mother, Adverse effect of
oxytocin on fetus, Side effects, Contraindication and nurse's role in oxytocin administration. Content validity
and reliability of the questionnaire were determined through a panel of experts and pilot study. Descriptive
and inferential statistics are used to analyze the data.
Results: The results of the study showed that highest percentage (24.3%) were in age group (40-44) years,
nursing secondary school graduated, and (30%) of them had (1-5) years of experience in nursing, and (62.9%)
was not pass in service education. Their knowledge was adequate in some items and inadequate in certain
items. Regarding oxytocin administration, there were statistical significant association between level of
knowledge and (work time (shift), implementation of orders
Recommendations: Implementation of educational program for nurses about oxytocin administration to
increase their knowledge, further research in this field by using checklist to apply administration technique in
right method to prevent error occurrence.