Date of Award

2018

Embargo Period

8-1-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Lynne S. Nemeth

Second Advisor

Teresa J. Kelechi

Third Advisor

Kenneth Catchpole

Abstract

High-alert medications (HAMs) pose a significant risk to patient safety. Nurses are in a unique position to identify and prevent HAM errors before they occur. There is insufficient research on the most effective ways to improve safety when nurses are caring for patients receiving high-alert medications. Simulation-based learning (SBL) has been recommended as a strategy to help decrease HAM errors, but evidence specific to simulation and HAM safety is extremely limited. This dissertation begins the process of addressing this need. Three manuscripts are included in this dissertation. The first manuscript is an integrative review of literature on the use of SBL to improve safe performance of medication administration and decrease medication errors by nurses and nursing students. In the second manuscript, the perspectives of practicing registered nurses on factors that support or interfere with safe administration of HAMs were evaluated through a qualitative descriptive study. Finally, findings from the qualitative descriptive study informed the development of two HAM simulation scenarios. The simulations were evaluated within a feasibility study on the use of a SBL on HAM safety with nursing students. Findings of this dissertation provide the groundwork for future interventional research into the effect of SBL on HAM safety outcomes.

Rights

All rights reserved. Copyright is held by the author.

Download

Share

COinS