Compliance and Challenges of Transmission-Based Precaution Practices Among Nurses in Jordanian Hospitals During the Novel SARS-CoV-2: A Descriptive Study

Background: Standard precautions (SPs) practices are of crucial management skills among Health Care Workers (HCWs) including nurses against the highly infectious novel virus SARS-CoV-2. Aims: The study aimed to assess level of nurse?s compliance with SPs, and identify the main challenges that experienced by nurses during their work with infected SARS-CoV-2 patient?s.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was used. The study was conducted in different sectors that represent the health care sector in Jordan. 386 nurses recruited from the different sectors. Results: Data were collected from 386 participants. 66.8% of the participants were female. Most of them revealed that they were dealt previously SARS-CoV-2 patients (73.6%). Generally, nurses demonstrated good level of compliance with SPs practices (71%). The staff reported that they mostly adhere with performing hand hygiene after all procedures (65.8%). On the other hand, they were least adherence with maintaining a physical distance of patient and staff of at least 6ft apart (28.5%). Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess nurse?s knowledge and practice regarding basic life support (BLS) skills while working with SARS-CoV-2 patients in Jordanian hospitals. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 nurses with direct contact with SARS-CoV-2 patients at Jordanian hospitals. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used based on the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. Findings A total of 386 participants were recruited. The mean years of experience were 7.89 (SD = 5.97). About three quarters of participants revealed they deal with SARS-CoV-2 patients directly (n = 284, 73.6%). The total mean score of nurse?s knowledge was 4.44 (SD = 1.22), while the total mean score of practice was 8.44 (SD = 2.05). Independent t-test was used, which revealed a statistically significant difference between educational level and total score of nurse?s knowledge [t(386) = 0.215 and p = 0.001] and between training to deal with SARS-CoV-2 during BLS and total score of practice [t(386) = 2.66 and p = 0.008]. Pearson correlation discloses a positive correlation between the total score of knowledge and practice (r = 0.343 and p = 0.001). Research limitations/implications In general, nurses revealed a moderate level of knowledge and practice of BLS skills. However, assessing nurse?s knowledge and practice during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in identifying the gap in nurse?s knowledge and practice, and therefore, it will have an impact on providing high-quality BLS to save infected patients while providing maximum safety according to AHA guidelines. Originality/value This study is the first study that examined the level of knowledge and practice of BLS skills during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Jordan.