POSITIVE ASPECTS OF USING PROTOCOLS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN ALL UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS IN PLOVDIV, BULGARIA

Abstract

Purpose: The development of protocols for the work of nurses, aims to assess the activities carried out by the nurses, who do not have experience working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). We wanted to study the protocols` effectiveness and all the benefits for the organization of the working process. Materials and methods: The study has covered 129 nurses, working in ICUs at the fifth University Multifunctional Hospital for Active Treatment (UMHAT) in the city of Plovdiv: "St. George”; "Kaspella", "Plovdiv", "Pulmed", "Eurohospital". The study was conducted in January 2014 - February 2016, via anonymous direct individual survey, which had been designed for that purpose. Data has been analyzed by using statistic programme version SPSS 21.0. Results: The study shows that 94 (52.80% ± 3.74) of the respondents considered the use of protocols as one of the ways for limitation costs of the clinic, the other 42 (23.60% ± 3.18) responding with full agreement statement. On the other hand, protocols used as algorithms allows a faster and more efficient process of healing according to 57 (32.02% ± 3.50) of the respondents, the other 113 (63.50% ± 3.61) have rather positive opinion. More than half 97 (54.50% ± 3.73) nurses, who are working in ICUs, believe that the use of protocols contributes to the prevention of adverse drug reactions, other 41 (23% ± 3.15) being fully convinced about this. Conclusion: The contribution of protocols to patients' hospitalization, the more efficient organization of nursing activities, better communication among workers, as well as the active exchange of knowledge and experience between them, are positive for the quality of care, provided in ICUs.

Keywords

• protocols
• health care
• intensive care units (icus)
• nurses