Knowledge and Practice of Nursing Care Plan in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (Ucth) Calabar, Among Nurses

Abstract

The research study aim at investigating the knowledge and practice of nursing care plan in the university of Calabar teaching hospital (UCTH) Calabar, among nurses. The objectives of the study were to determine: the knowledge of nursing care plan, the practice of nursing care and the factors that hinder the practice of nursing care plan. Three research questions were formulated based on the objectives and one research hypothesis was postulated for the study. Donabedian quality model of 1966 was theoretical framework adopted. Non-experimental descriptive survey design was the design used and population of the study was 129 respondents. Questionnaire was the instrument used in the gathering data while chi-square was used to analyze the data gathered from the field. Results of the study revealed that  60(47.62%) of the respondents strongly disagreed with the statement that nursing care plan is not done for patient care due to limited time for nurses. 26(20.63%) disagreed with the statement, 30(23.81%) strongly agreed with the statement and 10(7.94%) agreed with the statement. 50(39.68%) agreed with the statement that, lack of adequate staff causing excess workload for nurses on duty hinders the practice of nursing care plan. 49(38.89%) agreed with the statement while 20(15.87%) disagreed and 7(5.56%) strongly disagreed with the statement. The finding of the study indicated that there is significant relationship between knowledge and practice of nursing care plan. More so, institutional factors, nurse’s attitude and lack of stationeries hinder the implementation of nursing care plan. It was recommended among others that Regular courses should be organized for nurses to update their knowledge on nursing care plan and current nursing diagnosis.