Ndosi Mwidimi E, Newell Rob
Academic and Clinical Unit of Musculoskeletal Nursing, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.
J Clin Nurs. 2009 Feb;18(4):570-80; discussion 620. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02290.x. Epub 2008 Aug 1.
To determine if nurses had adequate pharmacology knowledge of the drugs they commonly administer.
Literature suggests that nurses have insufficient pharmacology knowledge. We also know that nurses and teachers of pharmacology are not satisfied with the amount of pharmacology taught in preregistration programmes in the UK. There is a lack of primary research on nurses' knowledge of pharmacology for the purpose of drug administration.
We used a non-experimental causal comparative and correlational design.
We recruited a convenience sample of 42 nurses working in surgical wards of a foundation hospital in the North of England. Data were collected by structured interview and questionnaire methods. During the interview, the participants made a blinded selection of one out of four drugs they commonly administer and answered standard questions which focused on specific pharmacology knowledge. Their answers were given a score out of 10 (100%) to determine their actual pharmacology knowledge.
The sample comprised of 18 (42.9%) junior nurses and 24 (57.1%) senior nurses. They had a median experience of 10.87 years postregistration. Their mean knowledge score was six ranging between two and nine (SD 1.9). Only 11 (26.1%) nurses scored eight or above and the majority 24 (57.2%) scored below seven, indicating inadequate knowledge. Knowledge of the mechanism of action and drug interactions was poor. There was a correlation between knowledge and experience.
The results of this study suggest that nurses have inadequate knowledge of pharmacology. The results will contribute to the evidence of nurses' knowledge of pharmacology in the UK.
This study supports the need for supplementary pharmacology education for nurses in clinical settings, focusing on common drugs they administer. This will increase nurses' knowledge and confidence in drug administration and safer medicines management.
确定护士对其常用药物是否具备足够的药理学知识。
文献表明护士的药理学知识不足。我们也知道，护士和药理学教师对英国注册前课程中所教授的药理学内容量并不满意。缺乏关于护士用于药物管理目的的药理学知识的原发性研究。
我们采用了非实验性因果比较和相关性设计。
我们在英格兰北部一家基础医院的外科病房中招募了42名护士组成便利样本。通过结构化访谈和问卷调查方法收集数据。在访谈过程中，参与者从他们常用的四种药物中盲目选择一种，并回答侧重于特定药理学知识的标准问题。他们的答案给出10分制（100%）的分数，以确定他们实际的药理学知识。
样本包括18名（42.9%）初级护士和24名（57.1%）高级护士。他们注册后的中位工作经验为10.87年。他们的平均知识得分为6分，范围在2至9分之间（标准差1.9）。只有11名（26.1%）护士得分在8分及以上，而大多数24名（57.2%）护士得分低于7分，表明知识不足。对作用机制和药物相互作用的知识掌握较差。知识与经验之间存在相关性。
本研究结果表明护士的药理学知识不足。这些结果将为英国护士药理学知识的证据提供补充。
本研究支持在临床环境中为护士提供补充药理学教育的必要性，重点是他们常用的药物。这将增加护士在药物管理和更安全的药品管理方面的知识和信心。
