Date of Graduation
5-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Curriculum and Instruction
Advisor/Mentor
William McComas
Committee Member
Anna Jarrett
Second Committee Member
Susan Patton
Keywords
medication errors, nursing, nursing curriculum, nursing students, patient safety, prevention strategies, reporting errors
Abstract
This paper evaluates senior nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes of medication errors and reporting errors. This study was conducted to evaluate a need for improvements to nursing education on these two concepts. This mixed method study was conducted using a modified version of the Medication Administration Error Reporting Survey by Wakefield, Uden-Holman, and Wakefield (2005) and focus group sessions at four nursing programs in the Southern United States. Medication errors continue to be a threat to patient safety and underreporting exists due to the stigma surrounding admitting a mistake. Evaluating nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes on these concepts is a crucial step in evaluating their readiness to administer medications. This study found that nursing students lack knowledge of the definition of a medication error, types, and causes. This study also found that students do not know how to report medication errors. This study validated the need for a change to nursing education and a culture change encouraging reporting errors.
Citation
Teal, T. D. (2019). Associate and Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Medication Errors and Reporting Medication Errors: Implications for Curriculum Development. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3202