title: Survey of intensive care nurses' knowledge relating to the pulmonary artery catheter.
abstract: In 2003 there was an increase in the use of pulmonary artery catheters in Australia from 12,000 to 16,000 units in intensive care and peri-operative care. This survey of intensive care nurses in five intensive care units in Queensland addressed knowledge of use, safety and complications of the pulmonary artery catheter, using a previously validated 31 question multiple choice survey. One hundred and thirty-nine questionnaires were completed, a response rate of 46%. The mean score was 13.3, standard deviation +/-4.2 out of a total of 31 (42.8% correct). The range was 4 to 25. Scores were significantly higher in those participants with more ICU experience, higher nursing grade, a higher self-assessed level of knowledge and greater frequency of PAC supervision. There was no significant correlation between total score and hospital- or university-based education, or total score and public or private hospital participants. Fifty-one per cent were unable to correctly identify the significant pressure change as the catheter is advanced from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
authors.affiliation: Primary Base-Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland.
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jane
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hickling
mesh_terms: D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000451:nursing*; D003422:Critical Care; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D011793:Queensland