Nurses’ knowledge of the medication management at intensive care units (original) (raw)

Medication Management Skills of Nursing Students: Comparing the Students and Their Instructors` Evaluation in two Universities

Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 2013

Background: Nurses have critical roles in the process of medication. Evaluating the process of medication helps nursing educators and students to determine the present status and then, improve the quality of care. Objective: The current study was conducted to compare the self-evaluation of nursing students in their own medication skills with the evaluation done by clinical instructors, in Qom's Azad University and Arak University of Medical Sciences, in 2011. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Data gathered using a self-report questionnaire and an observation checklist. A total of 141 students and 10 instructors participated in the study. SPSS software (version 13) was employed to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon rank test were used. Results: The mean scores for the domain of medication preparation were 2.51 ± 0.55 and 2.58 ± 0.57 based on the students' self-evaluation and the instructors' evaluation of the students, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the total mean scores of 'medication preparation' in the two evaluation methods (P > 0.05). The highest mean score was achieved in the domain of drug administration both in the self-evaluation and evaluation by the instructors. A significant difference was observed between the total mean scores of 'drug administration' in the two evaluation methods (P < 0.05). The domain 'post medication nursing care' has got the lowest mean score among the three domains both from the perspective of the students and that of the instructors. The mean scores of different domains of medication management were close in the two universities. Conclusions: The present study showed that the nursing students are not quite competent in the process of medication therapy both from their own and their clinical instructors' perspectives. This finding shows the urgent need to implement some actions to strengthen the students' skills in medication therapy.

Student nurses’ thinking during medication administration

Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 2014

The objectives of the study were: to assess Knowledge of nursing students regarding drug calculation and safe drug administration in Pediatric ward, to find out the association of level of Knowledge of nursing students regarding drug calculation and safe drug administration with the selected variables. A non-experimental approach was adopted for the study. The research design adopted for the study was descriptive design.The sample size of the study comprised of 110 nursing students of M.M. College of Nursing Bachelor of Science of Nursing-85 students Post Basic Bachelor of Science of Nursing-25 students. The tool used for data collection was structured knowledge questionnaire. The data presented also showed that the calculated chi-square values of knowledge of nursing students with age, gender, class, religion, frequency of drug administration and educational program attended were significant and chi square value of practice was significant with age. The conclusion are drawn from the study that most of the nursing students had average knowledge regarding drug calculation and safe drug administration and most of them had very good practice regarding drug calculation and safe drug administration.

Knowledge of nurses in relation to the treatment of medicinal products

Kontakt, 2020

The administration of medicines is a well-known risk factor associated with patient safety. Handling medicines is a routine daily activity for nurses. As such, nurses need to know basic information about how medicines are administered, as well as medicine storage, labeling, security, documentation, and how to dispose of unused medicines. As part of a standardized, controlled interview, we examined the knowledge base of nurses relative to the items list above. We also examined daily routines and habits relative to this topic. Our sample consisted of 1,202 nurses, who were representative of nurses in health care facilities, in terms of region and age, in the Czech Republic. The sample included nurses from a variety of hospital types. Most nurses (67.5%) reported that in their workplaces, doctors were only allowed to verbally-prescribe drugs under special circumstances. Roughly the same percentage of nurses were able to correctly identify the risk categories of drugs. However, only 10% of nurses knew the correct temperature for drug storage. A majority (64.9%) regularly checked drug expiration dates (once a week). Most nurses (72.6%) reported that they never prepared medications taken multiple times per day, in advance. Based on the results of our survey, nurses have a good understanding of how to handle and dispense medication; nonetheless, we found considerable room for improvement. Proper drug handling and administration are critically important for patient safety, and any omission or failure in these protocols can have serious or even fatal consequences.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Nurses in Administering Medications at Mansoura University Hospitals

Background: Patient safety is a priority for health care organizations worldwide. Nurses need to recognize the challenges they face when administering medications to their patients. Aim: the current study was carried out to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses in administering medications, identify the relationship between knowledge attitude and practice of nurses in administering medications. Finally, examine the association between nurses' knowledge, attitude, practice and socio-demographic characteristics. Design: A descriptive correlational cross sectional study design was used. Setting: This study was conducted on nurses in specialized medical hospital. Subjects: 140 nurses. Tools: Two tools were used; the first tool was structured interviewing questionnaire. It was used to measure socio-demographic data, nurses' knowledge and nurses' attitude regarding medication administration. Tool two was medication administration checklist to assess nurses' practice regarding medications administration. Findings: Slightly less than two thirds of nurses have poor total knowledge score regarding medication administration. Slightly more than half of the nurses have positive attitude regarding medication administration, while more than two fifths have negative attitude. Around half of the nurses have poor total practice score regarding medication administration. Generally, there is a statistically significant relation between nurses' knowledge and their practice and attitude regarding medication administration. Moreover, there is a statistically significant association between nurses' years of experience and their knowledge regarding medication administration. There is a statistically significant association between nurses' sex and qualification and their practice regarding medication administration. Finally, there is a statistically significant association between nurses' working unit and age and their attitude regarding medication administration. Conclusion: Nurses have poor knowledge, practice, and negative attitude toward medication administration, which needs to be corrected.

Finnish nurses’ and nursing students’ pharmacological skills

Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2005

Finnish nurses' and nursing students' pharmacological skills Purposes and objectives. The purposes of this study were to investigate the pharmacological skills of Finnish nurses and graduating nursing students, to determine how pharmacological skills are related to background factors and to identify differences between nurses and students and, finally, to examine how the instrument used, the Medication Calculation Skills Test, works. Background. Pharmacology is a relevant and topical subject. In several studies, however, pharmacological skills of nurses and nursing students have been found insufficient. In addition, pharmacology as a subject is found to be difficult for both nursing students and nurses. Design and methods. The study was evaluative in nature; the data were collected using the Medication Calculation Skills Test, developed for the purposes of this study. The instrument was used to gather information on background factors and self-rated pharmacological and mathematical skills and to test actual skills in these areas. Results. Results concerning pharmacological skills are reported in this paper. The maximum Medication Calculation Skills Test score was 24 points. The mean score for nurses was 18.6 and that for students 16.3. Half of (50%) the students attained a score of 67% and 57% of nurses attained a score of 79%. Conclusions. Nurses and students had some deficiencies in their pharmacological skills. Nurses had better pharmacological skills than students according to both selfratings and actual performance on the test. Relevance to clinical practice. It is vitally important that nurses have adequate pharmacological skills to administer medicines correctly. This study showed that the Medication Calculation Skills Test seems to work well in measuring pharmacological skills, even though it needs further evaluation. Findings from this study can be used when planning the nursing curriculum and further education for Registered Nurses.

Medication preparation and administration: analysis of inquiries and information by the nursing team

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 2007

This study analyzed questions presented by nursing technicians and auxiliaries during medication preparation and administration. Data were collected through a form in which nurses who worked in the hospitalization unit of a general hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, were asked to take notes of any questions asked to them. Most of the 255 questions were related to medication dilution (103). Regarding the answers source, only 7.5% of answers were obtained from pharmaceutical professionals, 35.5% of the answers given by nurses was incorrect or partially correct, which can constitute a factor for medication administration errors. In addition, there are no pharmacists present in hospitalization units of Brazilian hospitals. These professionals could, jointly with nurses, facilitate medication orientation to nursing professionals during preparation and administration, as well as to patients themselves.

Nurse’s knowledge and Practice regarding Medication Errors in Critical Care Units: Descriptive study

2020

Medication administration should be an error-free process as possible. Critical care nurse need to be diligent in discouraging interruptions to prevent harm to the patients who are being cared for. Medication administration errors are a constant occurrence on the unit, and patient safety must be a focus. Aim: to assess nurse’s knowledge and practice regarding medication errors in critical care units. Design: Descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct the current study. Settings: The study was conducted in the following critical care units affiliated to Al minia University Hospital ; Intensive care, neurosurgical care, cardiac care, chest care and finally stroke unit. Sampling: A convenient sample consisted of 60 nurses was obtained from previously mentioned settings regardless of their personal characteristics. Tools: Two tools were used; First; A structural interviewing questionnaire to collect demographic data of the studied nurses and their knowledge regarding medi...

Bachelors of Science in Nursing Students and a Qualitative Analysis of their Medication Administration Experiences

Journal of Education and Practice, 2016

Lack of medication knowledge and skills is detrimental to the safety and welfare of patients. Lack of pharmacology knowledge and skills is detrimental to the safety and welfare of patients. In a southern baccalaureate nursing program, students demonstrated deficiencies in their medication knowledge and skill proficiency. This qualitative study discusses nursing students’ knowledge, training, and clinical instruction while administering medications. Results revealed that students had knowledge gaps regarding the complexity of the medication administration process, knowledge regarding medications, and fear of making a medication error without the support of their faculty. Educational strategies to improve the overall education of student nurses that enhance clinical medication safety will better improve patient safety outcomes. Keywords: Nursing Students, Medication Administration Process, Medication Safety

Nursing students' pharmacological knowledge and calculation skills

Nurse Education Today, 2011

Objectives: To evaluate graduating students' pharmacological knowledge and calculation skills and describe their self-rated readiness to safe medication care in practice on two nurse educational levels. Additionally, the study describes some characteristics of pharmacology in nurse education in Flanders, Belgium. Methods: Thirty-eight nursing schools (bachelor's degree in nursing [N = 18] and diploma in nursing [N = 20]) were asked to provide details on their pharmacology curriculum and to let their graduating students participate in a cross-sectional survey using the Medication Knowledge and Calculation test in February/March 2009. Results: The 29 participating schools showed a large diversity in pharmacology curricula. Mean scores on the pharmacology section and calculation section were 55% and 66%, respectively, for bachelor's degree and 52% and 53% for diploma students. On a scale of 1-10, 27% had a self-rated readiness perception ≤ 5. Results differed significantly between schools. Conclusions: Just before graduation, nursing students' pharmacological knowledge and calculation skills are limited. Apart from the test results, students did not perceive themselves able to deliver safe medication care in practice. Schools need to address the shortcomings. In practice, awareness is needed regarding possible limitations of the newly graduated.