Assessment of nursing knowledge and practices in pre- and post-cardiac catheterization: A cross-sectional study at a tertiary heart hospital emergency department

AbstractBackground: Cardiac catheterization is a key procedure in cardiovascular care. However, variations in nursing knowledge and practice remain a concern, especially in emergency departments where timely and accurate care is critical. Standardized pre- and post-procedural nursing care is essential for patient safety.Objective:To assess the knowledge and clinical practices of registered nurses in a tertiary heart hospital emergency department regarding pre- and post-cardiac catheterization care, and to examine the association between nurses’ sociodemographic characteristics and clinical competencies.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 registered nurses at the Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. Data was collected using a validated 50-item self-administered knowledge questionnaire and a 40-item observational checklist. Knowledge scores ≥70% were considered satisfactory. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-tests, and Pearson correlation (p