Intensive care nurses' experiences with the new electronic medication administration record

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Technology

Background:

• The implementation of electronic medication administration records (eMAR) aims to improve patient safety and medication accuracy.
• The Electronic Record for Intensive Care (eRIC) system integrates various patient data, including medication administration.
• Understanding the user experience of healthcare professionals is crucial for successful technology adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of Registered Nurses (RNs) administering medications using the eMAR within the eRIC system in an adult intensive care unit (ICU).

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive exploratory study was conducted in two stages.
• Five RN participants engaged in a focus group.
• Direct observation of medication administration using the eMAR in eRIC was performed for each participant.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: nurses working outside legal boundaries, patient safety concerns, and experiencing computer fatigue.
• A subtheme identified was 'taking time away from the patient'.
• Nurses reported using workaround practices to ensure safe medication administration and expressed concerns about increased screen time and reduced bedside patient interaction.

Conclusions:

• Implementing new eMAR systems like eRIC in ICUs necessitates workarounds by nurses to maintain safe practice.
• Concerns regarding patient safety, computer fatigue, and decreased bedside time are significant user-reported issues.
• Further research is needed to optimize eMAR systems for improved usability and patient-centered care in critical care settings.