Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Regarding Care of Patients with Traumatic Head Injury in the Intensive Care Unit

Background: Traumatic head injury is common neurological condition and a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality worldwide. Aim: the study aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge and practices regarding care of patients with traumatic head injury in intensive care unit. Design: A descriptive exploratory design was used to achieve the aim of the study. Setting: The study was conducted at the intensive care unit at Emergency building affiliated to Zagazig University Hospitals. Subject: Convenient sample which included all available nurses (90) nurses. Tools: Two tools were used: Tool I: Structured Interviewing Questionnaire, Tool II: Nurses’ Practices observational Checklists. Results: The current study illustrated that (71.1%) of the studied nurses have satisfactory level of knowledge regarding care of patients with traumatic head injury and (87.8%) of the studied nurses have competent level of practice regarding care of patients with traumatic head injury during first, second and third observation. Also, was a highly statistically significant positive strong correlation between knowledge and practice regarding care of patients with traumatic head injury among the studied nurses. Conclusion: most of the studied nurses at intensive care unit had satisfactory level of knowledge and competent level of practice regarding caring of patients with traumatic head injury. Recommendations: Further study is required to determine the Impact of an educational program on nurses' knowledge and practice regarding care of traumatic head injury patients at intensive care unit.