Current status of standardized ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring in NICU of one level three class A hospital

Objective To investigate the standard rate and common types of mistakes in ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU). Methods A total of 45 nurses were enrolled by convenience sampling method and investigated with assessment criteria developed by Department of Neurosurgery. Results There were 75.6% nurses conformed to the operation standard, while 24.4% nurses didn′t. The common types of mistakes were ventricular drainage unclosed before measuring pressure (37.5%), measuring pressure without zero correction (25.0%), incorrect zero position (16.7%), measuring pressure immediately after nursing operations (8.3%), measuring pressure without patients′ head at median position (8.3%), and tubes obstruction (4.2%), etc. The different ages, professional (technical) titles and working years of nurses in ICU were the influencing factors of standardized ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring. Conclusions Nurses have some non-standard operation and multiple practice during ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring. More attentions should be paid to provide standardized ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring training for nurses who are young, low occupational title and short of working experience in ICU. Key words: Ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring; Standardization; Investigation