196 Chapter 7 Abstract Aims To assess self-reported practices and knowledge of nurses and prescribers (i.e., physicians and nurse practitioners) on intravenous fluid therapy, and how they document it. Design Multicenter cross-sectional study, between April 2022 to July 2022, across thirteen wards from four hospitals. Methods A survey study was conducted to assess self-reported practices related to intravenous fluid therapy, with nine questions for prescribers and twelve questions for nurses. A twelve-item questionnaire evaluated their knowledge. To gain insights in documentation practices, a retrospective chart review was performed. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, with group differences analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Results The questionnaire was completed by 304 healthcare professionals, 92% were nurses. The majority of prescribers (n=20/25; 80%) expected that nurses would start, stop, or change intravenous fluid therapy. Overall, the median number of correct answers to knowledge questions was eight (IQR 7-9, range 0-12); four participants (1%) answered all knowledge questions correctly. Knowledge about the composition of frequently used intravenous fluids, such as sodium chloride 0.9% solution, was limited. The analysis of 362 patient charts revealed that 54% received intravenous fluids, most commonly 0.9% sodium chloride infusion (86%), although the indication was described in 3%. Thirty-one percent of the patients received intravenous fluids to keep-the-vein-open (<30ml/hr). Conclusion The study identified shared responsibility, a knowledge gap, and limited documentation concerning intravenous fluids. Prescribers expect nurses to intervene, which aligns with what nurses do, although they are not authorized. It is highly likely that not all patients needed intravenous fluids.
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