Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Summer 7-12-2026
Abstract
Abstract: Background: Perioperative patient safety is a fundamental component of high-quality surgical care, particularly for cardiac patients who are highly vulnerable to preventable adverse events throughout the surgical continuum. Nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety through the implementation of evidence-based perioperative safety measures. However, variations in nurses' knowledge and clinical practice may compromise the consistent delivery of safe perioperative care. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses' knowledge and practices regarding perioperative patient safety measures provided to cardiac surgical patients. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 89 nurses working in perioperative units at Aswan Heart Centre, Egypt. Data were collected using two validated instruments: a self-administered knowledge questionnaire and a structured perioperative safety observation checklist. Nurses' practices were observed across morning, evening, and night shifts before completion of the knowledge questionnaire to minimize observation bias. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient, were performed using SPSS version 21, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Most nurses demonstrated competent perioperative safety practices (85.4%), whereas knowledge levels were predominantly fair, with 39.3% exhibiting poor knowledge, 45.0% fair knowledge, and only 15.7% good knowledge. Clinical experience and working area were significantly associated with both knowledge and practice (p < 0.05). Furthermore, nurses' knowledge showed a statistically significant positive correlation with overall practice (r = 0.217, p = 0.020), indicating that higher knowledge levels were associated with better implementation of perioperative safety measures. Conclusion: Although perioperative nurses demonstrated high levels of practical competency, important deficiencies in theoretical knowledge remain, particularly in ethical and legal principles, pain management, communication, teamwork, and patient safety culture. Strengthening role-specific continuing education, simulation-based training, and standardized communication strategies may enhance knowledge translation into clinical practice and further improve perioperative patient safety in cardiac surgical settings.
Recommended Citation
Muhirwa, R. J. V., Adel, M., & Abouheiba, M. (2026). Nurses' knowledge and practices regarding perioperative patient safety measures provided for cardiac patients. International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing, 13(2), 56–70. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21330485 Authors: Rene Jean Victor Muhirwa; Maha Adel; Marwa Abouheiba Year: 2026 Title: Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Regarding Perioperative Patient Safety Measures Provided for Cardiac Patients Journal: International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Pages: 56–70 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21330485
Comments
This article presents the findings of a cross-sectional study evaluating nurses' knowledge and practices regarding perioperative patient safety measures for cardiac surgical patients at a specialized tertiary cardiac centre in Egypt. The findings provide evidence to support competency-based education, quality improvement initiatives, and enhanced perioperative patient safety.