EVALUATION OF NURSES’ COMPETENCE IN THE PREVENTION OF PERIPHERAL VENOUS CANNULAE RELATED INFECTIONS AT SUB COUNTY HOSPITALS, ELDORET

Abstract

Background: Peripheral intravascular cannulae, is a device that is used in hospital inpatient for patient management. The device is linked to complications such as infections, which harm patient health,satisfaction and increase healthcare costs. Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the competence of nurses in preventing cannula related infections in newly upgraded sub-county hospitals. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional design was used in four sub-county facilities, and applied quantitative and qualitative approach which described and analyzed the knowledge and skills of 86 nurses. Census was applied. There was direct observation which determined whether the nurses in the four facilities applied their theoretical knowledge and skills in practice. A structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used. Results: Most nurses (87%) had adequate knowledge, who correctly responded to ≥50% of the 10 knowledge items. Using the observation checklist, highest awareness was observed in areas such as skin preparation before cannula insertion (100%), wearing non-sterile gloves and adhering to aseptic technique (97.7%). However, only 36.1% correctly knew the recommended time for cannula removal (12–72 hours), which showed a significant knowledge gap. Logistic regression further revealed that nurses with ≥10 years of experience were 1.53 times more likely to be competent (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.36–1.72; p < 0.001), and those with 5–9 years had 1.22 times greater odds (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.17–1.81; p = 0.050) compared to nurses with <5 years of experience. The knoweldge and observed skill was used to determine the competency of nurses which was at 66.7% in nurses who scored >50% in both knowledge and application. Conclusion: The study concluded that most nurses (87%) demonstrated adequate knowledge in infection prevention practices which includes skin preparation and aseptic technique. There were gaps in specific areas of knowledge of the recommended cannula dwell time. There were few nurses who had a gap in their skills. Nursing experience was significantly associated with higher competence, underscoring the importance of continuous training and mentorship to bridge identified gaps. Recommendation: The study recommends enhancing nurses’ clinical competence and knowledge in IV cannulation through improved training, regular audits, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also highlights the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice to ensure effective infection prevention in the insertion, removal, and care of intravenous cannulae. Key words: Peripheral intravenous cannula, Infection, prevention, Nurses’ competence