Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge and Practice regarding Neonatal Jaundice in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Suez Canal University Hospitals

Background: Neonatal jaundice is still the leading cause of preventable brain damage, physical and mental handicaps, and early death among newborn infants in many communities. Aim: The present study aimed to assess nurses' knowledge and practices regarding neonatal jaundice in the neonatal intensive care unit at Suez Canal University Hospitals. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: the study was conducted at NICU at Suez Canal University Hospitals. Sample: included a convenient sample of all nurses (45) and 60 neonates diagnosed with jaundice in the previously mentioned setting. Tools: A structured interviewing questionnaire and observational checklists to assess nurses’ knowledge and practices regarding neonatal jaundice.  Results: Indicated that more than four-fifths of the studied nurses had a poor level of knowledge regarding neonatal jaundice, and more than four fifths of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory practice regarding nursing care given to neonates with jaundice. Conclusion: The study concluded that the studied nurses’ knowledge and their practice levels were poor regarding nursing care given to neonates with jaundice and there was no statistical correlation between the studied nurses’ total knowledge and their total practice. Recommendation: The study recommended an in-service educational program for updating nurses' knowledge and practice regarding neonatal jaundice.