Date of Award
2018
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.
Recommended Citation
Sessions, Laura C., "Feasibility of Simulation to Teach High-Alert Medication Safety" (2018). MUSC Theses and Dissertations. 296.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/theses/296
Rights
All rights reserved. Copyright is held by the author.