Newly qualified Saudi nurses’ ability to recognise the deteriorating child in hospital

Abstract

Background
It is recognised that nurses’ failure to recognise and respond promptly to a deterioration in children’s physiological status can result in increased morbidity and mortality.
Aim
The aim of this study was to explore Saudi-educated newly qualified nurses, working in paediatric wards, ability to recognise children’s deterioration.
Methods
A pilot study was carried out to assess Nurses’ responses to three clinical vignettes (deteriorating child, improving child and ambiguous scenarios). The nurses’ ability to make a correct identification was captured using a ‘Think Aloud’ approach and quantified using a visual analogue scale.
Results
Twenty-seven nurses in two geographical regions in Saudi Arabia participated. Only half the nurses (51.8%) correctly identified the deteriorating child vignette. Of the ones who could not, 37% were unsure and 11% responded incorrectly. No nurses correctly identified all three vignettes, and four nurses (15%) responded incorrectly to all vignettes.
Relevance to clinical practice
Newly qualified nurses working in paediatric wards frequently find it difficult to identify the deteriorating child.
Conclusions:
The recognition of the deteriorating child is complex, and even in non-stressful simulated scenarios using vignettes, many newly qualified nurses working with children failed to recognise clear signs of the deteriorating child. A focused (culturally specific) educational intervention is being developed to target this, taking into account the Saudi nurses’ perceived education and training needs.