A Study to Assess the effectiveness of protocols on apnea test regrarding the knowledge & practice among staff nurses working in selected hospitals in Bengaluru

Abstract

Brain death is defined as an irreversible loss of all functions of the brain, including the brain stem. The three essential findings in brain death are coma, loss of reflexes and Apnea. The diagnoses of brain death can be done by the two assessments; they are brain stem reflexes and Apnea test which are conclusively performed. Apnea test is a potential examination of determining brain death, because it provides an essential sign of definitive loss of brainstem function. There are certain prerequisites (such as Normotension, Normothermia, euvolemia, eucapnia, absence of hypoxia and no prior evidence of co2 retention) that the patient have to achieve before undergoing Apnea test. Potential complications occur while the patient under goes Apnea tests. Complication of Apnea test can be prevented by following standard protocols. So, there lies the need for upgrading the knowledge and practice of future nurses to prevent the complication of Apneàtest. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge and practice of staff nurse towards protocols of apnea test. To impart the knowledge to subjects on protocols of apnea test