Heart ward's nursing staff performance in caring of heart temporary and permanent pacemakers

Rhythm dysfunction is one of the important cardiovascular problems and pacemakers have been used increasingly during past decade. Complications and pacemakers’ dysfunction can be prevented by providing necessary information and nursing care to patients. This study was designed to examine nurses’ performance in giving care to patients with temporary and permanent pacemakers. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on nurses of Kerman University affiliated hospitals in 2007. Data was collected by a researcher-made questionnaire with 36 questions on nursing care (15 items on hospital care and 21 items on discharge time nursing care) after determining its Validity and reliability. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics indices and Chi square, Pearson and mean comparison tests by SPSS 15. The mean score of postoperative care was 23.30±6.27. The discharge time mean score was 44.66±14.30. Pearson test demonstrated significant relationship between postoperative and discharge time caring scores (r=0.577; p=0.0001). There was no relationship between postoperative and discharge time care scores with cardiac re-education courses. Considering nurses’ lack of information on patient education and the critical situation of these patients, establishing nursing re-education courses and adding courses with functional content to nursing curriculum are suggested.