| dc.description.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 | en_US |
