Abstract:
Background: More than fifty percent of critically patients admitted in intensive care units
require respiratory supports with mechanical ventilation (MV).However the nurse‟s levels of
competence on mechanical ventilation is reported to be quite low worldwide.A study done in
South Africa regardless of nurses‟ training background, age, or experience showed a poor
level of competence on mechanical ventilation with the following average score, 48% for
ICU qualified nurses and 31% for non-ICU qualified nurses while the competence indicator
was 75%.
Aim of the study: The purpose of the study was to determine the level of competence on
mechanical ventilation among the intensive care unit nurses at University teaching hospitals
in Rwanda.
Specific objectives: To determine the level of competence on mechanical ventilation and to
identify the factors that are associated with the level of competence among nurses working in
the intensive care units at university teaching hospitals in Rwanda.
Methodology: The cross-sectional descriptive design was used to achieve the research
objectives. The study population was made by 62 nurses working in ICUs of University
Teaching Hospitals in Rwanda. To get the sample size, census sampling method was used.
The tool composed of demographic data and three clinical vignettes was adapted and used as
data collection tool. Vignette one concerns the normal post-operative patient, Vignette two
concerns the patient with ARDS and Vignette three concerns the patient with COPD. SPSS
was used to capture and analyze data.
Results: The level of competence on mechanical ventilation was poor. Only 1.6% of
participants achieved the competence indicator of 75% other 98.4% did not achieved. It was
found that the competence level was associated with qualification, job position and age with
p values ,P(0.000),P(0.000),P(0.038) respectively.
Conclusion: The overall competency level on mechanical ventilation among nurses working in
selected ICUs was poor. This is likely to negatively affect the patient who is mechanically
ventilated. Furthermore, associated factors were identified
