What do cardiovascular nurses know about the hematological management of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome?

Aim: We investigated the level of knowledge of hematological management of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome among general cardiovascular nurses and nurses who specialize in congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: We conducted a survey at two international conferences attended by cardiovascular nurses. Nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire comprising two questions and three clinical case scenarios. Overall, 89 nurses participated (response rate 90.8%), 43 of whom specialized in CHD. Results: The level of knowledge displayed among cardiovascular nurses is poor. About one-third of nurses not specialized in CHD recognized the definition of Eisenmenger syndrome and knew what normal hematocrit levels are. With respect to the cases presented, less than 10% of the nurses could give a correct answer. The level of knowledge of specialized nurses was significantly higher, but also here, important gaps in the level of knowledge could be observed. Less than two-thirds knew the reference values of hematocrit and knew the appropriate management in two cases. Less than half of the specialized nurses knew about the procedure of isovolumic phlebotomy. Conclusion: The level of knowledge displayed by cardiovascular nurses regarding the hematological management of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome is poor. Also the knowledge of nurses specialized in CHD could be improved.