title: Using integrated simulation in a nursing program to improve medication administration skills in the pediatric population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this evaluative study was to determine the overall influence of a mixed educational approach on student knowledge and self-confidence with pediatric intravenous medication administration.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There are diminishing opportunities for students to practice IV medication administration in pediatric patients. Nurse educators must find ways to effectively train students that ready them for the real world of patient care while reducing risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  After lecture and pretesting, junior-level students spent approximately 50 hours in a pediatric unit and 40 hours in a high-fidelity pediatric simulation completing scenarios with medical prescribing and system-based pharmaceutical error, unpredictable medication administration dilemmas, and acute drug reactions.After the clinical rotation, students completed a posttest and self-confidence survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  . Results revealed a rise in knowledge and student self-reporting of confidence of essential medication administration skills for the pediatric population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clinical rotation enhanced with simulation provides a rich learning environment without endangering patients. It allows students to experience risk-free problem-solving while giving faculty a more predictable process to assess acquisition of skills.
authors.affiliation: BSN Department, University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions, San Francisco, California, USA. paulyoneil@usfca.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pauly-O'Neill
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prion
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D017145:Models, Educational; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*