| Summary: | 碩士 === 中臺科技大學 === 護理研究所 === 98 === There are many chemicals in daily nursing practice which can cause adverse effects on unprotected skin ranging from contact dermatitis to permeation of the skin and systemic toxic effects. Nurses often neglect the safety and risks on occupational exposure to chemicals while providing quality care to their clients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude of using chemicals among nursing staff. A descriptive correlational design with convenient sampling method was used. Questionnaires were distributed to on-job students who either study at graduate program or RN-BSN program at a university in Central Taiwan. The final sample included 147 participants and with a response rate of 87.5%.
The knowledge of chemicals used in clinical setting significantly differed, depending on whether the nursing staff had participated at a course of clinical chemical safety or not. On the other hand, educational background, work experience and source of information made no differences in related knowledge among nurses. The higher education level and more related education received by the nurses, the more positive attitude of chemicals.
In addition, results of this study revealed that nursing staff had poor knowledge levels on identifying hazard signs of chemicals. Either the experiences of contacting chemicals nor the use of protective clothing made impacts on the awareness and attitudes toward chemicals among nursing staff. Courses on chemicals safety should be included in nursing curriculum and in-service training course; uses of protective clothing should be emphasized, and chemical safety should be promoted. Thus,「Positive Practice Environments : Quality Workplaces＝Quality Patient Care」, as declared by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) will be achieved.
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