Open heart surgery (OHS), operations performed on the heart that
require a child being placed on the heart-lung bypass machine. It is a common surgical procedure that can save lives and improve the quality of heart. Open heart surgery better treatable way of congenital heart disease and needs special care. Cardiothoracic surgical nurses key role in improving quality of children care through management of children to achieve optimal outcomes and prevents complications of open heart surgery. Aim: Evaluate the impact of an evidence- based educational program about pediatric open heart surgery care on both nurses and patient's outcomes. Methods: Quasi-experimental design for one group was utilized in carrying out the study at the Pediatric cardiology units at Mansoura University Children's Hospital and Institute of Heart in Damietta, on a sample of
40 nurses and 106 children undergoing open heart surgery for the first time, children in the age group from birth to 5 years, for at least 3 months. Data were collected by using three tools: Characteristics of studied nurses, structured interview questionnaire, nurses knowledge, nurses' reported practices regarding care of pediatric patient, and caregiver satisfaction scale Results: nurses' knowledge about congenital heart diseases and open heart surgery in pediatric is generally low, reported practice of the nurses had an incompetent before conducting the program, while it improved to become competent and their practice of postoperative care for open heart surgery is unsatisfactory. While immediately after and follow-up the implementation of educational program significant improvements in nurses' knowledge and practice was observed; all the areas were adequately performed by almost all nurses for almost all children in the study group. This is a positively reflected on child's outcomes Conclusion: The implementation of the educational program regarding care pre, immediate and follow up of children with OHS had a positive effect on the improvements of nurses' knowledge, practice and nurses' satisfaction. In addition, there were statistical significant differences between nurses' knowledge and practice pre immediate and follow up the program were observed Recommendations: Regular and continuous educational programs for cardio surgical nurses are essential for improving their knowledge and practice about children' with open heart surgery.