An Investigation of Pediatric Nurses' Oral Care Practices

INTRODUCTION: Oral care is a standard practice used to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units and in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. This research examines the oral care practices of pediatric nurses.
METHODS: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Its sample was composed of 90 nurses working in the pediatric services of a university hospital in western Turkey from March to December 2016. The research data was collected using a sociodemographic data form and the Oral Care Practices Information Form.
RESULTS: Of the nurses, 62.2% had received oral care education. There were statistical differences in oral diagnosis by clinic, work shift, doing an oral diagnosis before each oral care practice, oral care frequency and number of patients with impaired oral mucosal integrity (p<.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Nurses need training about oral care that is current with the literature to manage oral care practices more effectively.