Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Toward Parenteral Infusion (IV fluid administration and blood transfusion) in Intensive Care Units at Kirkuk city Teaching Hospitals

Parenteral infusion errors occur worldwide. A key component of critical care management in intensive care units (ICUs) is parenteral infusion therapy, which involves the delivery of intravenous (IV) fluids, IV drugs, blood transfusions, and parenteral nutrition.  Because these interventions are complex and high-risk, nursing staff knowledge, competence, and adherence to best practices are critical to achieving the best possible patient outcomes.  In order to ensure patient safety, avoid complications like infection, infiltration, or medication errors, and promote recovery, intensive care unit nurses are crucial in the initiation, monitoring, and management of infusion therapies. This study aims to evaluate nurses' knowledge and practices related to parenteral infusion therapy (IV fluid administration and blood transfusion).

Subjects and Methods: A quantitative design, descriptive study had been used through the present study with the application of test-retest approach for the studied sample during the period from 8^th October, 2024 to 15^th June, 2025. the sample include (95) nurses who were responsible for giving IV therapy and work in Intensive Care Units at Kirkuk city teaching hospitals.

Data collection: demographic information, nurses’ knowledge about (IV fluid administration and blood transfusion) through structured questionnaire, and nurses’ practice regarding parenteral infusion therapy through an observational checklist.

Result: The majority of nurses were female, majority of them in age group of (25-30) years. overall nurses’ knowledge about IV fluid administration was in test and retest (64.84 (Moderate)) and (69.68 (High)) respectively. overall nurses’ knowledge about blood transfusion was moderate in both test and retest (72.84 (High)) in the first test and (75.58 (High)) in the retest. Percentile Grand/or Global Mean of Score of nurses’ practice was (53.45 (Moderate)) in the first test and (55.21 (Moderate)) in the retest.

Conclusion: The present study nurses’ knowledge and practices as regards to parenteral infusion therapy were (high regarding blood transfusion, moderate regarding IV fluid administration and moderate regarding nurses’ practices related to parenteral infusion therapy).

Recommendation: Ongoing supervision and evaluation of nurses regarding the follow up of protocols and guidelines could help improve their practical levels.