DETECTION OF DRUG MEDICATION ERRORS OF NURSING STUDENTS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS THROUGH A HOSPITAL SIMULATION

Abstract

Objevtive: This study aimed to detect nursing students’ drug medication errors in pediatric patients.
 Methods: The study used a comparative descriptive research design and was carried out after the necessary ethical and official permissions had been obtained. The universe of the research consisted of the students of Faculty of Nursing. The sample of the study included 94 students (third year n=47 and fourth year n=47). A laboratory of the Faculty of Nursing was simulated as a room where a nurse provides treatment. The students who participated in the study with the determined drug order were asked to prepare the drugs with the most appropriate technique, and they were observed by the researchers. Data were collected one by one by the researchers using a drug medication errors checklist prepared by the researchers. 
 Results: The third year students did not consider dry powder dosage and obtained the lowest score (X̄=0.68). The fourth year students did not attach the right label on the drug taken and received the lowest score (X̄=0.42). The third year students were more successful in attaching the right label on the remaining drug (p=0.20) and the fourth year students were more successful in observing aseptic rules (p=0.03). Students in both groups ignored dry powder dosage of the drug in total and earned the lowest score from this practice (X̄=0.64).
 Conclusion: Drug medication errors committed by the students in both groups were high, and the students did not consider dry powder dosage when reconstituting the drug.