Nursing students administering medication: appreciating and seeking appropriate supervision.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study of undergraduate nursing students' experience of administering medication in the clinical setting.


BACKGROUND
Safe administration of medication is an important component of skilled nursing practice, and nursing students require personal and supportive supervision from Registered Nurses to enhance learning and promote safety. A review of the literature revealed a lack of research addressing students' experiences in administering medication.


METHODS
A grounded theory methodology was used. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 27 undergraduate nursing students in Queensland Australia in 2005.


RESULTS
Supervision emerged as the central category in this study. Participants acknowledged the need for and importance of supervision according to the following sub-themes: a university requirement; scope of practice; and safety, the five rights. They also described behaviours they adopted to seek supervision, including negotiating, chasing, waiting and avoiding.


CONCLUSIONS
Universities and healthcare settings need to collaborate more closely to ensure that adequate supervision is provided to ensure safe practices.
Reid-Searl
Kerry
K
Department of Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Health, and Institute for Health and Social Science Research CQ University Australia, Queensland, Australia.
Moxham
Lorna
L
Walker
Sandra
S
Happell
Brenda
B
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012449:Safety; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D055553:Prescription Drugs