Factors associated with medication administration by nursing students: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Medication Administration

Background:

• Medication errors are a significant patient safety concern, with nursing students exhibiting high error rates during clinical training.
• Factors contributing to errors include communication failures, distractions, and insufficient training, impacting both students and experienced professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map factors that may impede parenteral medication administration by undergraduate nursing students in hospital settings.
• To identify key challenges encountered by nursing students during medication administration in clinical environments.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Comprehensive literature searches were performed across multiple databases (MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF, Web of Science, Scopus, etc.) with citation reviews.
• Included studies focused on undergraduate nursing students administering parenteral medications and reported influencing factors in hospital settings.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies published between 2002 and 2024 were included, with a predominance of research from Australia and the United States.
• Studies employed quantitative (11) and qualitative (9) designs, with sample sizes ranging from 10 to 329 students.
• Key identified factors include student self-confidence, deficiencies in clinical supervision, and limitations within the institutional environment.

Conclusions:

• Student self-confidence, clinical supervision quality, and environmental factors significantly influence parenteral medication administration by nursing students.
• Educational strategies must be enhanced to improve clinical competence, foster a strong patient safety culture, and create safer learning environments.
• Addressing these factors is essential for cultivating safer nursing practice and improving patient outcomes during the educational process.