title: Exploring the influence of workplace supports and relationships on safe medication practice: A pilot study of Australian graduate nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the growing awareness of the benefits of positive workplace climates, unsupportive and disruptive workplace behaviours are widespread in health care organisations. Recent graduate nurses, who are often new to a workplace, are particularly vulnerable in unsupportive climates, and are also recognised to be at higher risk for medication errors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the association between workplace supports and relationships and safe medication practice among graduate nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory study using quantitative survey with a convenience sample of 58 nursing graduates in two Australian States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey focused on graduates' self-reported medication errors, safe medication practice and the nature of workplace supports and relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spearman's correlations identified that unsupportive workplace relationships were inversely related to graduate nurse medication errors and erosion of safe medication practices, while supportive Nurse Unit Manager and supportive work team relationships positively influenced safe medication practice among graduates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workplace supports and relationships are potentially both the cause and solution to graduate nurse medication errors and safe medication practices. The findings develop further understanding about the impact of unsupportive and disruptive behaviours on patient safety and draw attention to the importance of undergraduate and continuing education strategies that promote positive workplace behaviours and graduate resilience.
authors: Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia. Electronic address: asahay@deakin.edu.au.
authors: Ashlyn
authors: A
authors: Sahay
authors: School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore 2780, Australia. Electronic address: marie.hutchinson@scu.edu.au.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Hutchinson
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia. Electronic address: l.east@deakin.edu.au.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: East
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D058445:Bullying; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Disruptive behaviours; Graduate; Medication administration; Nursing workforce; Workplace bullying