The role of the nurse during oral drug administration

Abstract

Oat drug administration is one of the commonest route of drug administration and a common nursing role. Literature reports on the role of the nurse during oral drug administration are limited and mainly yielded opinions or beliefs on drug administration, drug rounds and drug errors. This qualitative study aimed to observe nurses' behaviour during oral drug administration using a survey design. The purpose was to identify who distributed prescribed oral drugs, the system used, whether acknowledged recommendations for safe adminis tration of oral drugs are being met, observing nurses' interactions and identifying observed difficulties during oral drug administration. A convenient sampling of mid-morning drug rounds [n=lO] was chosen, five in each of two medical wards. By using a structured check-list and observational method, the first ten patients in each drug round were observed. In all, 100 patients were observed being given oral drugs, 50 in each ward. While acknowledging the limitations in this study, the data suggest that Maltese nurses' role in prescribed oral drug administration is not being given the importance it requires to safely administer prescribed oral drugs. It neither fulfills the acknowledged standards. Recommendations were discussed.