Knowledge levels of neonatal intensive care nurses about neonatal jaundice and treatment

Neonatal jaundice is the changes in bilirubin metabolism of newborns and the increased bilirubin production (hyperbilirubinemia). Bilirubin encephalopathy may occur unless hyperbilirubinemia is not diagnosed early and treated on time, which is the most serious and severe complication of neonatal jaundice. Therefore, newborn nurses should have the knowledge to fathom the differences, diagnosis and treatment of neonatal jaundice. What is aimed with this study is to determine the knowledge levels of Neonatal Intensive Care (NIC) nurses on neonatal jaundice and its treatment. This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted in January-June 2019 with NIC unit nurses (F=88) working in NIC unit in eight different hospitals located in the center and provinces of a city in the Central Anatolia Region. The sample of the study consisted of NIC nurses (f=66) who conformed to the sample selection criteria and agreed to participate in the study. In the study, the data were collected by using "Introductory Information Form" and "Assessment Form for Knowledge Levels of NIC Nurses on Neonatal Jaundice and Treatment". The form consists of 40 items with the lowest score from 0 to the highest score, 40. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS (Version 22.0) package program, appropriate statistical evaluations were used, and p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant. The average age of the NIC nurses participating in the study was 23.38±6.50, of whom 62.1% did not receive any in service training on neonatal jaundice, and the mean score of knowledge levels for neonatal jaundice and treatment was found 29.7±3.63. Based on total working hours of the NIC unit and their level of training on neonatal jaundice, the differences in their knowledge level mean scores were found to be significant (p<0.05). Although the knowledge level of the nurses working in the NIC unit on neonatal jaundice and its treatment is above the medium level, it is still not at the desired level.In-service training on the subject should be given to NIC unit nurses. Keywords: Nurse, Newborn jaundice, Newborn jaundice knowledge level