Final year nursing students' preparedness for medication administration during COVID-19: A multi-site survey study

AIM

To examine final-year undergraduate nursing students' characteristics and their perceived preparedness for medication administration across three universities during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND

Medication administration is a complex process and medication errors can cause harm to the patient. Nurses are at the frontline of medication administration; therefore, nursing students must be well-prepared to administer medicines safely before graduation. Little is known about final-year undergraduate nursing students' perceived medication administration preparedness during COVID-19.

DESIGN

A multi-site study using a cross-sectional survey of student demographics, the 'Preparedness for Medication Administration' (Revised) tool and an open-ended question.

METHODS

The questionnaire was distributed to nursing students in their final semester of the program in 2022 across two universities in Australia and one in New Zealand. Completed surveys n=214. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data. Differences in demographic data and preparedness scores between the three universities were analysed using ranked means, correlation coefficient, Chi-Square, Mann- Whitney U and Kruskal- Wallace H. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data from the open-ended question.

RESULTS

Overall, students reported high preparedness scores for medication. International students reported significantly higher preparedness scores (Md =119, n=29) compared with domestic students (Md=112.00, n=164), U=1759.50, z=-2.231, p=02, r=.16. Mean ranked scores for each item were above average across the three universities. The impact of COVID-19 on curriculum and students' opportunity to practice may be one explanation for the difference in preparedness scores between universities. International participants reported significantly higher scores on the Preparedness for Medication Administration (Revised) tool than domestic participants. Older students were more confident in applying principles of pharmacology to practice. Students' comments generated three major categories and five subcategories indicating preparedness gaps.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into students' medication management preparedness during restrictions and before transitioning to the role of Registered Nurse. It highlights the need to provide integrated and comprehensive medication education and assessments throughout the curriculum and the need for additional support for newly graduated nurses in medication management due to the restrictions.

Simulation in an Undergraduate Nursing Pharmacology Course: A Pilot Study

This study examined the effectiveness of simulation as a method of teaching pharmacological concepts to nursing students; perceptions of satisfaction with simulation as a teaching strategy were also evaluated. Second-semester juniors participated in three simulations and completed the National League for Nursing Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Questionnaire and the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality Survey; a control group received traditional lectures. A unit exam on anticoagulant therapy content was administered to measure effectiveness. Findings support that simulation is as effective as traditional lecture for an undergraduate pharmacology course.

Online video in clinical skills education of oral medication administration for undergraduate student nurses: a mixed methods, prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Improvements in the safety of the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines are identified as a priority across international healthcare systems. It is therefore essential that higher education institutions play their part in helping to meet this patient safety objective. New developments in clinical skills education which are aligned to emerging educational theory are available, but evaluations and supportive evidence are limited.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the use of an online best practice exemplar as an adjunct to the clinical skills teaching of oral medication administration to undergraduate student nurses.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods prospective cohort design.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Two intakes of undergraduate nursing students (n=168, n=154) undertaking a first year clinical skills based module at a British university.

METHODS

The Control group received standard teaching using lectures and skills classes facilitated by experienced clinical skills lecturers. The Intervention group received the standard teaching and unlimited access to an online video clip of medication administration. Performance and satisfaction were measured using module assessment results and a satisfaction questionnaire. Qualitative data were gathered using focus groups (n=16, n=20).

RESULTS

The Intervention group was significantly (p=0.021) more likely to pass the assessment and rate their satisfaction with the teaching significantly higher (p<0.05) on more than half of the items from the Student Satisfaction Survey. Two Categories were identified from focus group data; Classroom Learning and Transfer to Practice. Classroom Learning included four themes of Peers, Self, Teaching and Time and when Classroom Learning was positive, the Transfer to Practice of the clinical skill was enhanced.

CONCLUSIONS

An online video of a best practice exemplar as an adjunct to taught clinical skills sessions improves student assessment results and satisfaction ratings. The video was also reported to positively influence all themes identified in Classroom Learning and was perceived to promote the Transfer to Practice of teaching input.