Abstract

The lungs are paired organs situated in the thoracic cavity that performs respiration. Conditions affecting the thoracic cavity range from acute problems to long term chronic disorders. Many of these disorders are serious and often life threatening. For example if hemothorax occurred as result of chest trauma or any thoracic surgery will leads to an increase in the intrapleural pressure and results in respiratory dysfunction. The important management for this condition is chest tube drainage. The purpose of chest tube drainage is to remove the excess air, fluid or pus from the pleural space and to restore normal intra pleural pressure, so that the lungs can re-expand.OBJECTIVES : To assess the level of knowledge regarding care of patients with chest tube drainage among staff nurses. To find out the association between the level of knowledge regarding care of patients with chest tube drainage among staff nurses with their selected socio-demographic variables.Methodology: Quantitative approach and Non-experimental descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among 30 Staff nurses who are working in NMCH, Nellore. Non probability convenience Sampling Technique was adopted. Tool: Questionnaire method. RESULTS:13.3 % had B+ Grade, 46.7 % scored B Grade, 30 got C Grade, and 10. got D Grade. The mean score was 17.0 with standard deviation of 1.8 for the level of knowledge regarding care of patient with chest tube drainage among staff nurses. CONCLUSION: The Study findings concluded that majority of staff nurses had B level of knowledge regarding care of patient with chest tube drainage.

Key words: KNOWLEDGE, CARE OF PATIENTS, CHEST TUBE DRAINAGE, STAFF NURSES