Objective:

To know the perception of the professionals about quality of care in patients with chest drainage regarding protocolization, training, knowledge and self-perceived skills in nursing care in inpatient services.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of 424 subjects from hospitals in three departments (provinces) of Uruguay. We analyzed 18 variables grouped in categories related to personnel, protocolization, training and knowledge, self-perception of skills.

Results:

41% had not received training on the subject, 79% knew the protocol, and 46% said they had witnessed an adverse event related to this care. Only 7% of the staff correctly responds to 100% of the knowledge variables, 47% correctly responds 80% of them. Regarding self-perceived skills, 43% said they felt empowered and with skills to guide others, 28% had skills but did not feel safe to orient, the rest did not feel enough skills.

Conclusions:

The main aspects related to quality that must be improved are related to the implementation of continuous training programs that provide knowledge to the staff and are developed with innovative methodologies that achieve specific skills to improve their skills and safety of care.