Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge of Epilepsy Management in Children at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Background: Epilepsy in children requires prompt, knowledgeable nursing management to prevent injury, reduce seizure duration, and provide caregiver education. Knowledge deficits among nurses can increase morbidity. Aim: This study assessed nurses' knowledge of epilepsy management in children at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, North East Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design recruited 85 registered nurses from paediatric, neurology, and emergency units through stratified random sampling. A validated 28-item knowledge questionnaire was administered. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used in data analysis. Results: Adequate knowledge of seizure first aid was demonstrated by 58% of nurses. Knowledge of anti-epileptic drug side effects and status epilepticus management was satisfactory in only 44% and 39% respectively. Paediatric unit nurses had significantly higher knowledge scores than emergency nurses. Conclusion: Important knowledge gaps exist in epilepsy management among Nigerian paediatric nurses. The study recommends targeted epilepsy nursing education programmes, integration of paediatric neurology content in post-basic curricula, and development of seizure management protocols for all paediatric facilities. Keywords: epilepsy, paediatric nursing, seizure management, Maiduguri, children.