Pediatric Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Fever and Fever Management

Aim: This descriptive study is conducted with the aim of defining the pediatric nurses’ knowledge and approach towards body temperature measurement, body temperature data evaluation and the appropriate aporoaches based on the data evaluation.

Method: Research is conducted between September, 2013- May, 2014 and data was collected in allowed private, educational-research and university hospitals. The number of samples was found minimum 152 by used in order to represent the universe. The questionnaire prepared by researchers is corrected through the expert opinions in order to collect data. Data collected from 167 nurses who accept to participate in this study and analysed by Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 2007 & Power nalysis and Sample Size (PSS) 2008 Statistical Software programme.

Results: When the first three attempts for febril children is asked to nurses; they indicate to use antipyretics (35.9%), to apply warmwater (45.5%) and to be needed body tempreature control (36.5%). The nurses’ knowledge level on fever and fever management is more improved due to working year (F=2.617; p=0.043). There is a statistically significant correlation between nurses’ working institution and department (F=4.392; p=0.14). It is also determined that in private hospitals, the score of appropriate approach is higher than other hospitals. Furthermore, according to nurses’ working institution, there is no significant diff erence between their individual knowledge score on fever/fever management (F=0.651; p=0.523).

Conclusion: In conclusion, it is determined that nurses’ knowledge on fever management and approach towards fever is enough even above the average, but they are still need education about fever management and nurses’ approach is predominantly aff ected by the institution policy. In this direction, it is concluded that to increase nurses’ knowledge on fever management and approach toward febril patient, and enhance the positive attitudes, the education is needed.Keywords: Fever, fever management, child, nurse.