Nursing students' perceptions of clinical learning opportunities and competence in administration of oral medication in the Western Cape

Clinical learning opportunity in public academic hospitals: A concept analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical learning opportunities (CLO) are vital educational encounters occurring in various clinical areas to provide the student nurses with clinical knowledge and experiences to develop their competencies for professional practice. However, CLO is a broad concept with varied characteristics that allow ambiguity, limiting its understanding and use. Its ambiguous nature leads to uncertainties and poor development of the required clinical attributes of successful theory to practice integration, higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) and clinical competencies.

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore and describe the conceptual meaning of CLO, have a clear understanding and insight into the concept and identify the antecedents and consequences for pragmatic purposes.

SETTING

The study took place in a public academic hospital in Gauteng.

METHODS

The eight steps of concept analysis by Walker and Avant were followed. Multiple data sources not limited to nursing were explored and critically analysed for the definitions, characteristics, nature and uses of CLO from different fields of study.

RESULTS

The defining attributes of CLO were identified, namely the context, antecedents, processes, consequences and outcomes. The context within which CLO occurs was dynamic, multidimensional, real-life healthcare settings; antecedents included planning of clinical placement, provision of learning outcomes and consideration of the cognitive level of the students. Engagement and active participation in collaborative, problem-based learning activities, community-based research and the use of emerging technologies were the processes identified. The outcomes were autonomous, confident, competent professional nurses with critical thinking, clinical reasoning, judgement, critical decision making and problem-solving skills.

CONCLUSION

A theoretical and operational definition of CLO was developed. The findings and results of concept analysis identified and specified the defining attributes of clinical learning opportunity. The findings can assist nurse educators, Clinical Education and Teaching Unit (CETU) personnel and operational managers to enhance CLO for student nurses to achieve their clinical learning goals and outcomes. The evaluation tools that may be adopted to assess the acquired clinical skills were also identified.

CONTRIBUTION

An increase in the existing body of knowledge in nursing education, considering that enhancing the CLO exposes students to various clinical experiences contributing to their development of clinical competencies to solve complex problems. The strategies to enhance the CLO will be developed, which may also provide vital information for policy development. Conceptualisation of the findings to nursing practice and quality patient care will be integrated into relevant literature.

'It's good to have the knowledge and the confidence': Mental health student nurses' views of a medication workshop

The administration of medication in a safe manner is a key nursing role and nursing regulatory bodies mandate that it is part of undergraduate training. However, it has been noted that qualified nursing staff are dissatisfied with the knowledge demonstrated by students. As such, a 2-day evidence-based workshop on medication management for final-year nursing students was facilitated to address knowledge deficits. Content was delivered by academics and practicing nurses. The aims of this study were to evaluate internship mental health student nurses' experiences of a 2-day medication management workshop. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Three focus group interviews were held with student nurses who partook in the workshop. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: Developing Confidence around Medication Management, Reflections on Learning Gained from the Workshop, and Enhancing Awareness and Vigilance of Medication Errors. Overall, participation in the workshop was identified as having a positive impact on students' knowledge, competence, and confidence in relation to becoming a safe practitioner. Students reported that the timing of the workshop - during internship - was appropriate for their knowledge needs. Findings indicate that the right amount of information was delivered by the right people, at the right time, in the right way. This study has highlighted the positive impact of a 2-day workshop delivered in the final year of mental health student nurse training, on their confidence and competence in the area of medication management. It provides some insight into how a practical collaborative approach to this type of education between academics and clinicians can help students bridge the theory-practice gap.

Medication administration and anxiety: an observational study with nursing students

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Medication administration errors represent a topic of great scientific interest. Medication administration is considered by nursing students a complex process during which it is easy to make mistakes; therefore, institutional measures have been adopted in order to reduce medication errors. However, it remains a critical issue in nursing practice for which several causes have been identified, including environmental factors and individual knowledge. Mistakes can be made by nurses and especially by students who must cope with additional causal factors including anxiety management. The aim was to investigate state anxiety levels among nursing students when it comes to medication administration.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

An observational study involving a convenience sample of 150 nursing students from a Northern Italy University has been conducted; they were asked to complete a questionnaire to measure the levels of state anxiety in relation to medication administration.   Results. There were no particularly high levels of state anxiety among students associated with medication administration; however, state anxiety levels were slightly higher in third-year students than in second-year students, and this is most likely due to the growing complexity of the medication administration process compared to the lack of experience.   Conclusions. Although the results don't show statistically significant data, the effectiveness of nursing education plays a crucial role in reducing medication errors, which is why it is essential to provide suitable tools for the professionals of the future and invest in clinical simulations.

Supervisors' perceptions on errors of nursing students in clinical clerkship: a qualitative research

OBJECTIVES

to compare pedagogical supervisors' and clinical supervisors' perceptions about the errors made by nursing students in clinical clerkship.

METHODS

a qualitative exploratory-descriptive study developed with 105 participants. Data collection was performed with a questionnaire with open-ended questions. Content analysis performed according to the conceptual model of student errors in clinical teaching.

RESULTS

pedagogical supervisors perceive, in descending order, errors in transversal competencies, in the execution of care and medication. Clinical supervisors perceive, in descending order, the execution of care, medication, and transversal competencies.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

there was coincidence and complementarity in clinical supervisors' and pedagogical supervisors' perceptions, although not in the same order, regarding the errors made. This study presents contributions related to the existing knowledge in relation to medication errors, which are not the most perceived, and those of transversal competencies, which take on a prominent position.