Identify the practices regarding effective wound cleaning among nurses aged 22 years and above working at Rakai General Hospital, Rakai District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/insights.v3i4.62Keywords:
Practices of nurses, Effective wound cleaning, hands-on wound-cleaning demonstrations, Rakai general hospitalAbstract
Background:
Globally, nurses aged 25–50 years play a vital role in effective wound cleaning. The purpose of this study was to assess the practices of nurses aged 22 years and above regarding effective wound cleaning at Rakai General Hospital, Rakai District.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study design employing a quantitative research method was used to collect data from 32 nurses at Rakai General Hospital who were sampled using a purposive sampling technique within a period of 3 days. Data was collected with a structured questionnaire, coded, and analysed using Microsoft Excel (2019) programs, and findings were presented in frequency tables, graphs, and pie-charts.
Results:
16(50%) were between 25–30 years while smallest 2(6.25%) were 43 years and above. 18(56.25%) rarely wrote and reviewed wound notes whereas the minority 6(18.75) always did. 24 (75%) of the respondents used a combination of hand washing, gloves, and saline when cleaning wounds, and only 1 (3.1%) relied on gloves only. 16 (50%) reported using hand washing and sterile tools, and 2 (6.25%) reported using any available tool. 20 (62.5%) used saline, while a minority, 3 (9.4%), reported using sterile water. Half of the respondents, 16 (50%), admitted that they sometimes changed dressings late, while a few, 4 (12.5%), indicated that they rarely changed wound dressings.
Conclusion:
Most nurses followed essential infection-prevention steps, but delays in dressing changes, poor documentation, and limited mentorship affected the overall quality of wound management.
Recommendations:
Schools should integrate more hands-on wound-cleaning demonstrations and simulation sessions to ensure nurses graduate with strong practical skills.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Esther Namawejje, Hasifa Nansereko, Immaculate Prosperia Naggulu, Jane Frank Nalubega
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