EFFECTS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON KNOWLEDGE OF MANUAL BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT AMONG 500 LEVEL MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: QUASI EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Blood pressure measurement is one of the most essential procedures in healthcare industry. It one of the main core procedures in nursing profession. The use of electronic blood pressure apparatus has become an accepted norm in healthcare industry with a lot of errors recorded. The general purpose of this research work is to use educational program as a means to enhance knowledge and skills of manual blood pressure measurement among 500 level Madonna university Student Nurses. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a one group pre-test and post-test quasi experimental design study was used. The Rule of Thumb formulae was used to get sample size of 153 participants. The participants were purposively selected. A Self -structured questionnaire which was organized in accordance with the research objectives was used as the instrument for data collection pre and post educational program. Data was analyzed using descriptive simple percentage, mean, standard deviation and p-value. The findings from the Pre-educational program data, showed that only 19.6% of the participants were aware of the correct positioning of the arm during blood pressure measurement. Also only 11.1% of the participants knew how to accurately identify korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement and only 14.4% knew the appropriate cuff size to use for different arm circumferences. Post educational program data reviewed that 69.3% of the participants were aware of the correct positioning of the arm during blood pressure measurement, 67.3% of the participants knew how to accurately identify korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement and 65.4% knew the appropriate cuff size to use for different arm circumferences. The study rejected the null hypothesis as it concluded that the educational program was successful as participants gained knowledge on manual blood pressure measurement after the educational intervention.