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Fusco Final DNP Project 3.19.20.pdf (726.54 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Medication Safety Competence of Undergraduate Nursing Students
Author Info
Fusco, Lori A
ORCID® Identifier
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7049-550X
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp158558798038964
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2020, Doctor of Nursing Practice , Case Western Reserve University, School of Nursing.
Abstract
Patient medication administration is one of the major responsibilities of the professional nurse. Pre-licensure nursing students and new nursing graduates often lack competency to safely administer medications. Nursing educators teach and evaluate safe medication administration by undergraduate bachelor of science nursing (BSN) students during sophomore year. These students are expected to demonstrate safe medication competence through senior year and post-licensure. The purpose of this study was to determine the medication safety competence of undergraduate junior and senior BSN students. A descriptive comparison design of undergraduate BSN students from two cohorts was used to collect data at an urban, public university in Northeast Ohio. The convenience sample included 188 BSN students who agreed to participate in the simulation study, comprised of 98 juniors and 90 seniors. Data was collected over two weeks via observation and focused on the six rights of medication administration using the Medication Administration Safety Assessment Tool (MASAT). Analyses included descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests to compare the medication competency of juniors and seniors. Results revealed 29.6% of juniors and 14.4% of seniors demonstrated competence on all eight medication checklist items on the MASAT. The difference between the medication safety competence of juniors and seniors on total MASAT scores did not show statistical significance (p > .05). On individual MASAT scores, there was no statistical significance (p > .05) between juniors and seniors on checklist items one through seven corresponding to right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. Results showed statistical significance (p < .01) on checklist item eight, indicating juniors performed right documentation more frequently than seniors. Two additional analyses revealed (1) no statistical significance (p > .05) between juniors and seniors asking about medication allergies, and (2) statistical significance (p < .01) between juniors and seniors completing three medication checks, with juniors demonstrating greater competency than seniors. The perception of medication safety competence by junior and senior BSN students was evaluated following completion of the simulation experience via online survey of open-ended questions. Junior and senior responses were separated and divided into the top three most common response themes for each of the four questions. Findings from this study provide nursing faculty educators with information regarding medication safety competency of upper level nursing students. This information can guide undergraduate curriculum planning to improve medication safety competencies in pre-licensure students, thus promoting better patient care and outcomes by reducing medication errors.
Committee
Celeste Alfes, DNP (Committee Chair)
Elizabeth Zimmermann, DNP (Committee Member)
Amy Weaver, PhD (Committee Member)
Pages
87 p.
Subject Headings
Nursing
Keywords
medication competency
;
medication competence
;
nursing
;
nursing student
;
undergraduate
;
safety
;
medication safety
;
medication errors
;
patient safety
;
medication simulation
;
medication administration
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Refworks
EndNote
RIS
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Citations
Fusco, L. A. (2020).
Medication Safety Competence of Undergraduate Nursing Students
[Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp158558798038964
APA Style (7th edition)
Fusco, Lori.
Medication Safety Competence of Undergraduate Nursing Students.
2020. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp158558798038964.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Fusco, Lori. "Medication Safety Competence of Undergraduate Nursing Students." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp158558798038964
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
casednp158558798038964
Download Count:
724
Copyright Info
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University Doctor of Nursing Practice and OhioLINK.