DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2012.v01i01.009

Pages: 46-55

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses play a critical role in patient safety, with experience and specialized training potentially impacting clinical outcomes. Objective: This study examines how ICU nurses' years of experience and critical care training influence patient safety outcomes, including infection rates, error rates, and survival rates. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the inpatient ICU over one year, analyzing data from 100 patients cared for by ICU nurses with varying experience levels and training backgrounds. Data on infection rates, error rates, and survival outcomes were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Nurses with over five years of ICU experience had a 57% lower infection rate (12%) compared to those with less experience (28%), with an odds ratio of 0.43 (95% CI: 0.25-0.73, p < 0.05). ICU nurses holding critical care certification reduced medical errors by 35%, with an error rate of 10% compared to 15.4% for non-certified nurses, achieving statistical significance (p = 0.03). Survival rates were also notably higher, with 84% of patients under the care of experienced and certified nurses surviving compared to 68% for patients under less experienced and uncertified nurses, marking a 23.5% increase in survival likelihood (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12-1.88, p < 0.01). These results underscore the critical role of experience and training in improving patient safety and outcomes. Conclusions: ICU nurses’ experience and specialized training significantly impact patient safety and outcomes, emphasizing the need for continuous professional development and certification to optimize patient care (30 words).