Medication administration in nursing homes: A qualitative study of the nurse role

• Published in: Nursing open Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 384 - 392
• Main Authors: Odberg, Kristian Ringsby, Hansen, Britt Sætre, Wangensteen, Sigrid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Content analysis; Drug administration; medication; nurses; nursing; Nursing care; Nursing homes; Older people; Qualitative research; Roles; Norway; medication; nursing; older people; nurses; nursing homes
• ISSN: 2054-1058; 2054-1058
• DOI: 10.1002/nop2.216

Aims
The objective of this study was to expand the knowledge of the nurse role during medication administration in the context of nursing homes. The following research question guided the study: How can the nurse role during medication administration in nursing homes be described?
Design
A QUAL–qual mixed study design was applied.
Methods
Data were collected using partial participant observations and semi‐structured interviews of all staff members involved in medication administration. An inductive content analysis was performed.
Results
Medication administration is a pervasive process ingrained in the day‐to‐day activities of providing care to the patients. The nurse role is compensating, flexible and adaptable. There is a dynamic interaction between several contributory factors, those being shifting responsibility, a need for competence, invisible leadership, varying available competence, staff stability and vulnerable shifts.