Abstract

Background: Arterial blood gases (ABGs) provide crucial information about the respiratory and metabolic systems. They help in identifying imbalances and assessing the compensatory mechanisms of these systems. Accurate knowledge of ABG analysis is essential for nurses to ensure effective patient care and safety in critical care settings.
Objective: To assess the level of knowledge regarding ABG analysis among staff nurses in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling technique. The study included 140 staff nurses from a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution and normality checks.
Results: Among the participants, 58 (41.4%) demonstrated low knowledge, 36 (25.7%) had moderate knowledge, and 49 (32.9%) exhibited high knowledge of ABG analysis. In terms of ABG sampling techniques, 59 (42.1%) had low knowledge, 37 (26.4%) had moderate knowledge, and 44 (31.4%) showed high knowledge.
Conclusion: The study concluded that a significant proportion of nurses had low knowledge regarding ABG analysis, indicating a need for enhanced educational programs and continuous training to improve their competency in this area.