EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON NURSES'''' KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO CARE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING NASOGASTRIC TUBE FEEDING

Background: Implementing educational program on nurses'' caring of patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding is very important to prevent complications from feeding such as pulmonary aspiration, diarrhea, constipation, tube occlusion, displacement of the tube, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting, delayed gastric emptying and serum electrolyte imbalance.  Aim of this study:  This study was aiming to evaluate effect of educational program on nurses'' practice related to care of patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding. It also aims to design, implement and evaluate an educational program for nurses'' caring of patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding. Research design: A quasi experimental design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in intensive care unit at Al-Azhar university hospital in new Damietta city. Subject: The study involved all available nurses'' worked with patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding in intensive care unit at Al-Azhar university hospital about (30 nurse).. Tool of data collection: Data were collected using nurses'' nasogastric tube care performance observation checklist. Results: Total mean practice score regarding caring of patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding were improved, as good score was 40.18±3.30 preprogram while it reached 87.09±14.55 after implementation of the educational program, 82.59±12.97after 3 months and 77.71±11.54 after 6 months later. Conclusion: Implementation of educational program for nurses'' caring of patients undergoing nasogastric tube feeding significantly improved the nurses'' total level of practice. Recommendation: The study recommended continuous educational programs should be planned on regular basis to nurses'' about nasogastric tube feeding for enhancing nurses'' practice and to achieve high quality of care.