A Study To Assess The Knowledge on Emergency Drugs Among Nursing Students in Nursing Institutions, Shillong, Meghalaya

Abstract Emergency drugs are medications used to treat life-threatening conditions quickly and are administered when an immediate physiological response is required. They are also known as life-saving drugs. Emergency drugs are used to treat conditions such as cardiac arrest, septic shock, convulsion, and trauma. They are usually found in emergency wards, intensive care units, surgery and other areas of the hospital. Method The research approach was of quantitative research approach and the research design was non-experimental descriptive study design. The study was conducted using convenient sampling technique among 132 students of BSc Nursing in College of Nursing, NEIGRIHMS and Woodland Institute of Nursing, Shillong. The instrument used for data collection were structured knowledge questionnaire for collecting demographic data and to assess the knowledge of nursing student regarding emergency drugs. The tools have five domains on classifications, route, dosage, side effect and contraindication. The tool was validated by 7 experts. Result The present study reveals that out of 132 participants, 18(13.70%) have good knowledge, 51(38.60%) have average knowledge, 63(47.70%) have fair knowledge. With regard to the knowledge of the classification of emergency drugs findings revealed that 60(44.40%) have good knowledge, 57(43.20%) have average knowledge and 15(11.40%) have fair knowledge. In relation to the route of administration of the emergency drugs findings showed that 41(31.10%) have good knowledge, 52(39.40%) have average knowledge and 39(29.50%) have fair knowledge. Regarding the knowledge about the dosage of emergency drugs study revealed that 54(40.90%) have good knowledge, 47(35.60%) have average knowledge and 31(23.50%) have fair knowledge. Knowledge about the side-effect of emergency drugs study findings showed that 1(0.80%) have good knowledge, 64(48.50%) have average knowledge, 67(50.80%) have fair knowledge, whereas for the knowledge about the contraindication of emergency drugs 7(5.30%) have good knowledge,50(37.90%) have average knowledge and75(56.80%) have fair knowledge.