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

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.

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