Introduction: Post-operative infections, such as surgical site infections (SSIs), are a significant concern in healthcare settings. Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention and management of these infections. The use of nursing theory could contribute to the prevention of SSIs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nursing theory in the management of surgical site infections (SSIs) in a hospital environment. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods to assess the role of nursing theory in the management of Post-operative infections (POI) in a hospital setting in October 2023. The study population consisted of nurses working in the Surgery, Emergency, and Maternity units at Cibitoke District Hospital. A sample size of 71 nurses working full or part time in the Surgery were invited to participate in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, and SPSS version 21.0 software was used for analysis. Results: The study found that nursing theory did not have any statistically significant place in the management of POI (p-value = 0.523). However, the results showed that experience was the only significant factor influencing the management of POI (p-value = 0.004). This is explained by the analysis of the net effects of the explanatory variable where we noticed that those who had more experience were more likely to manage post-operative infections. The participants’ knowledge regarding nursing theory in the management was poor as they scored less than 30% in all the variables used to measure their knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that nurses’ knowledge of nursing theories and their applications in the management of SSIs was poor. Continuing professional development, curriculum review, and in-service training were highly recommended.
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