TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................. iii
COPYRIGHT............................................................................................................................... iv
DECLARATION .......................................................................................................................... v
AUTHORIZATION PAGE ........................................................................................................ vi
DEFINITION OF TERMS ........................................................................................................ vii
LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................. viii
LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………….………………………………..xii
LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………,………………………………...xiii
1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Problem statement.................................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Purpose of the study ............................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Specific Objectives................................................................................................................ 2
1.5 Research Questions................................................................................................................. 2
1.6 Justification of the Study........................................................................................................ 2
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................ 4
2.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 4
2.1 Nurses Practices towards the appropriate use of Fluid Balance Charts........................... 4
2.2 challenges in utilization of fluid balance charts among post operative patients............... 6
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................. 8
3.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 8
3.1 Study design and rationale..................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Study setting and rationale. ................................................................................................... 8
3.3 Study Population..................................................................................................................... 8
3.3.1 Sample Size Determination................................................................................................. 8
x
3.3.2 Sampling procedure............................................................................................................. 9
3.3.3 Inclusion criteria.................................................................................................................. 9
3.4 Definition of variables ............................................................................................................ 9
3.4.1 Dependent variable .............................................................................................................. 9
5.4.2 Independent Variable .......................................................................................................... 9
3.5 Research Instruments......................................................................................................... 10
3.6 Data Collection Procedure ................................................................................................... 10
3.6.1 Data Management.............................................................................................................. 10
3.6.2 Data analysis..................................................................................................................... 10
3.7 Ethical considerations........................................................................................................... 10
3.8 Limitations of the study........................................................................................................ 11
3.9 Dissemination of the results. ................................................................................................ 11
CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS.................................................................................................... 12
4.1 Description of the Sample. ................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Nurses practices towards the appropriate use of fluid balance charts on surgical ward
at Kampala International university hospital.......................................................................... 12
4.3 Challenges faced by nurses towards the appropriate use of fluid balance charts among
post operative patients on surgical ward. ................................................................................. 15
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, RECOMMMENDATIONS AND
IMPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS TO NURSING PRACTICE. ............................................ 21
5.0 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 21
5.1 Discussion of study findings & other subsections. ...................................................... 21
5.1.1 Nurses practices towards the appropriate use of fluid balance charts on surgical
ward at Kampala International university hospital. ............................................................... 21
5.2 Challenges faced by nurses towards the appropriate use of fluid balance charts among
post operative patients on surgical ward. ................................................................................. 22
ABSTRACT The incompletion of fluid balance charts stands as an evidence that electrolytes and fluid imbalances remain a problem to most health care settings. Several studies have questioned the accuracy in which fluid therapy is monitored and fluid balanced is calculated. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the factors affecting utilization of fluid balance charts by Nurses on surgical ward at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi District. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design to conveniently select a sample of qualified 35 nurses with a surgical nursing experience to investigate the current nurses’ practices regarding utilization of a fluid balance chart and the challenges associated with its use at Kampala International University teaching Hospital. The study results include: -the nurses’ practices towards use of FBC are: The majority of respondents 48.6% use fluid balance charts to monitor patients output and input though most of them 66.7% don’t balance the input and output at the end of 24 hours which is contrary to the standard of practice. The challenges associated with the use of fluid balance chart were: - Lack of enough supplies of fluid balance charts for all patients on the ward due to frequent stock outs, lack of knowledge on recording and balancing of FBC, general inconsistency and poor documentation of fluid balance. The study concluded that though surgical ward nurses use fluid balance charts to monitor postoperative patients’ fluid balance most of the nurses do not record accurately on these charts. Therefore, there is a need for continuous professional development for the in-service staffs, in relation to the importance and accurate recording and completion of fluid balance charts and the hospital management should to employ more qualified nurses on surgical ward to reduce on nurse to patient ratio and work load imposed on the nurses.