title: An exploration of pediatric nurses' compliance with a medication checking and administration protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined nurses' reported compliance with the medication administration protocol and explored reasons for noncompliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods design incorporated a questionnaire (n= 72) and focus groups (n= 24).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences were found between the level of experience and protocol compliance. Noncompliance was widespread in the checking of identification bands and double-checking medications. Key factors influencing compliance were ward culture, type of drug, familiarity with patient and drug, and workload. The reported realities of practice were found to influence compliance with the medication administration protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The discrepancies between protocol and practice in this setting underscore the need to more widely investigate compliance with medication administration protocols in other settings.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia. fenella.gill@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Fenella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corkish
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017144:Focus Groups; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000451:nursing; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations