KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF NURSES IN RELATION TO RENAL PREVENTION IN INDIVIDUALS ADMITTED TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

ntroduction: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an environment that houses patients with high complexity, in serious condition or at risk of hemodynamic instability, requiring personalized care. Objective: This study aims to understand the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding nursing actions in the prevention and management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the ICU. Methodology: An exploratory-descriptive research with a qualitative approach was carried out, involving 10 nurses who worked in the ICU of the Hospital das Clínicas do Pará, Brazil. Data collection took place in July 2021, through semi-structured interviews. The information was analyzed using discursive textual analysis, based on the responses in the interview script. Results: The analysis of the discourses resulted in four categories: nurses' knowledge about the risk factors for AKI; knowledge about the prevention of AKI in hospitalized patients; recognition of the clinical manifestations of AKI; and practical measures adopted to prevent the progression of kidney injury. There was a lack of information on the care required for the prevention and management of AKI in the ICU. Conclusion: The study revealed a lack of knowledge on the part of nurses regarding the signs and symptoms of AKI, although they demonstrated knowledge about common practices, such as monitoring urine output and checking laboratory tests, such as urea and creatinine, in addition to observing edema.