Evaluation of Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Knowledge Regarding Hemodialysis Care

Abstract

Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease, and nurses play a vital role in ensuring safe and effective care during the procedure. Adequate knowledge of hemodialysis principles, machine operation, complication management, infection control, and patient education is essential for nursing students before entering clinical practice. This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge regarding hemodialysis care among 228 undergraduate nursing students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Lahore School of Nursing, The University of Lahore. A structured self-administered knowledge questionnaire covering pre-, intra-, and post-hemodialysis care was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 through frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, with p < 0.05 specified for statistical significance. The item-level findings indicated a moderate overall level of knowledge. Students demonstrated relatively stronger knowledge in recognition of dialysis complications, patient monitoring, and dietary and fluid management. For example, 67.1% identified symptoms of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, 60.1% identified sudden pressure change inside the dialyzer as a cause of blood leakage, 65.8% identified fluid overload in a clinical presentation, and 70.6% identified post-dialysis review of weight and vital signs. In contrast, technical, infection-control, and occupational-safety items showed greater inconsistency, including machine-related procedures, ultrafiltration parameters, hepatitis C screening, and sharps disposal. The findings indicate that undergraduate nursing education provides a reasonable conceptual foundation but requires stronger simulation-based and competency-focused preparation for safe hemodialysis care.