Surgical nurses’ perceptions of administering opioid drugs: A descriptive and cross-sectional study

Burçin Irmak; Nurgül Bölükbaş; Elif Aslan Kılıç; Ömer Seyfi Acar; Hatice Polat Şimşek; Muharrem Çelik

doi:10.26550/2209-1092.1369

Authors

Assistant Professor Burçin Irmak Ordu University
Professor Nurgül Bölükbaş Ordu University
Elif Aslan Kılıç Ordu State Hospital
Ömer Seyfi Acar Ordu State Hospital
Hatice Polat Şimşek Ordu University
Muharrem Çelik Gölköy State Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26550/2209-1092.1369

Keywords:

analgesics, pain, nurse, opioid administration, perception

Abstract

Objective: This descriptive and cross-sectional study investigated how surgical nurses perceived opioid administration.

Material and methods: The sample consisted of 108 nurses from the surgical units of a state hospital in the north of Turkey. Data were collected using a nurse introduction form and the nurses’ perception of administering opioids questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods and Spearman’s correlation test.

Results: More than half of the participants (51.9%) reported frequently administering opioid drugs. Some of the participants (15.7%) stated that they observed their patients having side effects following opioid drug administration. The three most common side effects were hypotension (46.6%), nausea (30.0%) and vomiting (11.6%). Most participants (87.9%) noted that they should know more about opioid drugs than other drug groups in order to administer them safely. There was a weak negative correlation between participants’ knowledge of side effects when administering opioid drugs and their age, work experience in general, and work experience in the unit (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: It has been determined that surgical nurses need training in the administering of opioid group drugs. Hospitals should provide surgical nurses with in-service training in opioid administration.

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