AbstractIntroduction: Bowel wash plays a vital role in the treatment of constipation it is also very significant for the purpose of cleansing the bowel prior to almost all the abdominal surgeries. Bowel wash was originally developed to cleanse the large bowel before surgery or colonoscopy. Bowel wash has the effect of mechanically flushing the ingested poison out of the gastro intestinal tract before it can be absorbed into the body. Solution used during bowel wash are plain water, cold water (ice enemata), normal saline, sodium bicarbonate solution 1to 2 percent, antiseptic solution such as silver nitrate-1:5000, potassium permanganate solution -1:5000, boric solution 1to2%, amount of solution used :2 to 3 liters or till the return flow is clear.
Methods: A Non-Experimental descriptive research was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in selected hospital, Nellore district. 30 samples were selected by using non probability convenience sampling technique. Structured questionnaire were used to assess the knowledge regarding bowel wash among staff Nurses and Nursing students
Results: The study results shows that with regard to knowledge regarding bowel wash among staff nurses, 8(53.3%) had inadequate knowledge, 6(40%) had moderately adequate knowledge, 1(6.7%) had adequate knowledge, whereas in nursing students, 8(53.3%) had inadequate knowledge, 5(33.3%) had moderately adequate knowledge, 2(13.3%) had adequate knowledge
Conclusion: The study concluded that majority of staff nurses and nursing students had inadequate knowledge regarding bowel wash. So there is a need to improve knowledge both by the student nurses and as well as staff nurses.