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Medication errors: Perspectives of newly graduated and experienced nurses

UNLABELLED This study investigated the perspectives of newly graduated and experienced nurses concerning medication errors. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a military education and research hospital in Turkey, which was performed between July and August 2009. Totally, 169 nurses were involved in this study: 87 were new graduates and 82 were experienced nurses. The Modified Gladstones Scale of Medication Errors was used to collect data on rates, causes and reporting of medication errors. The two highest perceived causes of medication errors were nurse exhaustion and nurse distraction. Most medication errors were preventable errors. The reasons for error occurrence and failure to inform co-workers of medical errors were examined. IMPLICATIONS Training nurses to understand the causes of medication errors and related prevention methods should be provided to newly graduated nurses, and continuous training should be provided.

Living with scleroderma: patients’ perspectives, a phenomenological study

In this study, it is aimed to determine the daily life experiences of patients on the basis their own way of statement. Sixteen patients with scleroderma were enrolled to this qualitative study. Data were collected using both a demographic data form and a semi-structured interview form. Study was made on individual patient interview by face-to-face manner. Data were evaluated using Colaizzi’s phenomenological data analysis method. Data analysis revealed four categories and nine topics. These categories were (1) physical impact of disease, (2) emotional impact of disease, (3) social impact of disease and (4) patient behaviours for the cope with the disease. As emotional impact, patients imply that they have experienced disappointment, hope to get well and have fears about the future. In the physical impact category, tight skin, limitations of hand skills, swelling of the hands and feet, fatigue, swallowing difficulties and deformation of their bodies were the prominent features. In patients with recognizable disease, difficulty to join to social activities increases and eventually leads to isolation. There was also some evidence that patients who have been supported by their family and close relatives seem to be more optimistic about their disease. Most patients are not willing to communicate with other patients, particularly in an advanced stage. Scleroderma patients imply that they experience several difficulties regarding emotional, physical and social aspects. Individual abilities to cope with the disease were much more improved among patients who have a sustained social support. For advanced patients with apparent deformations, an effective social support system should be introduced.

An analysis of the factors affecting the transition period to professional roles for newly graduated nurses in Turkey

Background For the majority of newly graduated nurses, the transition to professional roles in their lives may be stressful. Common reasons for this include feelings of insufficiency with regard to clinical skills, fears of making mistakes, increased responsibilities and insufficient guidance. Aim To identify the factors affecting the transition period of newly graduated nurses. Methods This study was designed and carried out as a descriptive and a cross-sectional study of three cohorts of newly graduated students. The study was implemented at a military education and research hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The population consisted of 234 (89%) of newly graduated nurses. For evaluating data, the SPSS 15.0 program was used. The paired samples t-test and the Mann–Whitney U-test were employed to compare the participants’ perceptions about the transition period based on certain variables. Results It is found that 54.7% of nurses surveyed have the intent to quit the profession. More than half of the participants stated that their expectations were met through working with a preceptor nurse (58.73%). Furthermore, almost half of the newly graduated nurses experienced and expressed disappointment in the first year of their professional lives. Conclusions The findings indicate that newly graduated nurses experience some difficulty during this period of transition, but assistance from experienced nurses facilitates the transition period. Implications for Nursing Practice and Research In order to increase work quality and satisfaction levels of new graduates, support programs must be initialized and their effectiveness must be evaluated regularly by clinical administrators and educators.

The Frequency and Causes of Occupational Injuries Among Nursing Students in Turkey

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine the number and causes of occupational incidents that occurred in nursing students. This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study performed at a military nursing school in Turkey in June 2009 with 218 nursing students as subjects. A data collection form for identifying the characteristics of the students and their exposure to incidents was used. The frequency of incidents increased with the increase in the number of years enrolled in the nursing program. It was determined that needlesticks (47.3%) and broken ampules during medication preparation (37.8%) were the 2 most common reasons for injuries. This study showed that although nursing students had high percentage of penetrating injuries, the overall incidence of injury was low. For prevention of occupational incidents, information about occupational incidents, risks, and prevention methods must be included in the nursing curriculum.

The reliability and validity of three questionnaires: The Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale, Simulation Design Scale, and Educational Practices Questionnaire.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to adapt the “Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale” (SCLS), “Simulation Design Scale” (SDS), and “Educational Practices Questionnaire” (EPQ) developed by Jeffries and Rizzolo into Turkish and establish the reliability and the validity of these translated scales. Methods: A sample of 87 nursing students participated in this study. These scales were cross-culturally adapted through a process including translation, comparison with original version, back translation, and pretesting. Construct validity was evaluated by factor analysis, and criterion validity was evaluated using the Perceived Learning Scale, Patient Intervention Self-confidence/Competency Scale, and Educational Belief Scale. Findings: Cronbach’s alpha values were found as 0.77–0.85 for SCLS, 0.73–0.86 for SDS, and 0.61–0.86 for EPQ. Conclusions: The results of this study show that the Turkish versions of all scales are validated and reliable measurement tools.

Effectiveness of the training material in drug‐dose calculation skills

AIM The aim of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the training material based on low-level environmental fidelity simulation in drug-dose calculation skills in senior nursing students. METHODS A quasi-experimental design with one group. The sample included senior nursing students attending a nursing school in Turkey in the period December 2012-January 2013. Eighty-two senior nursing students were included in the sample. Data were obtained using a data collection form which was developed by the researchers. A paired-sample t-test was used to compare the pretest and post-test scores. RESULTS The difference between the mean pretest score and the mean post-test score was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study revealed that the training material based on low-level environmental fidelity simulation positively impacted accurate drug-dose calculation skills in senior nursing students.

Integrating simulation based learning into nursing education programs: Hybrid simulation

BACKGROUND Hybrid simulation can be developed with mannequins of any fidelity and tabletop simulators with a standardized patient to create a complex, high-level learning activity. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of a hybrid simulation technique used with nursing students in a scenario about the emergency setting. METHODS This one-group pre-test post-test model quasi-experimental study was carried out with 39 students in Ankara, Turkey, from October 2014 to July 2015. RESULTS Nearly all participants reported that the simulation improved their critical thinking, decision-making skills, and self-confidence before the clinical activity and that they felt as though they were real nurses during the activity (94.7%, 97.3%, 84.2%, and 92.1%, respectively). CONCLUSION The results of this study support the integration of hybrid simulation experiences throughout the nursing curriculum, as evidenced by positive responses from students through the simulation evaluation questionnaire.

The effects of music on the cardiac resuscitation education of nursing students

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of music on the appropriate performance of the rate and depth of chest compression for nursing students. METHODS This randomized controlled study was conducted in the School of Nursing in Turkey between November 2014 and January 2015. The studys participants were second-year nursing school students with no previous formal cardiac resuscitation training (n=77). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group with music and a control group without music. During practical training, the intervention group performed chest compressions with music. The outcomes of this study were collected twice. The first evaluation was conducted one day after CPR education, and the second evaluation was conducted six weeks after the initial training. RESULTS The first evaluation shows that the participants in the intervention group had an average rate of 107.33±7.29 chest compressions per minute, whereas the rate for the control group was 121.47±12.91. The second evaluation shows that the rates of chest compression for the intervention and control groups were 106.24±8.72 and 100.71±9.54, respectively. CONCLUSION The results of this study show that a musical piece enables students to remember the ideal rhythm for chest compression. Performing chest compression with music can easily be integrated into CPR education because it does not require additional technology and is cheap.