Medication math dosage assessment anxiety in undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Medication calculation assessment is commonplace in undergraduate nursing programs. A test is routinely used to assist in the determination of safe medication administration practice in a clinical setting. Multiple factors negatively impact student performance. AIM: The aim of this article is to analyze current literature related to medication calculation assessment and undergraduate nursing student anxiety. METHOD: A systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles included were peer-reviewed publications focused on undergraduate nursing student anxiety related to medication dosage calculation. FINDINGS: Anxiety related to medication calculation assessments can stem from students' personal lives and previous math experiences. Interventions related to increasing self-efficacy can impact student performance on assessments. CONCLUSION: A variety of interventions to assist undergraduate nursing students increase performance on assessments were indicated in the literature. Advances in educational technologies allow for more assessment options to facilitate safe medication practices.

Nursing Considerations When Using Neuromuscular Blocking Agents to Assist With Intubation: A Review of Literature.

The use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in acute care settings during intubation is vitally important. The NMBAs increase first pass success rates significantly while protecting patients from gastric aspiration, tracheal injury, and death. During emergent intubations, succinylcholine and rocuronium are commonly used, but each comes with specific risks and individualized interventions. First pass success can be increased by ensuring correct dosing for overweight patients and employing the use of video laryngoscope. For planned, nonemergent intubations with sustained paralysis, the chosen NMBA can be individualized to fit the patient's needs. This includes dosages based on upregulation or downregulation of acetylcholine as well as speed of administration to prevent histamine release. Nurses must provide specific care when managing the treatment in high-risk patient populations (coronary artery disease, hyperkalemia, renal failure, liver failure, and traumatic brain injuries) who may receive certain types of NMBAs. Finally, because of the wide range of adverse effects with these drugs, close assessments are essential to prevent complications.

Bedside Interprofessional Rounding: The View From the Patient's Side of the Bed.

BACKGROUND: Bedside interprofessional rounding is gaining ground as a means to improve collaboration and patient outcomes, yet little is known regarding patients' perceptions of the practice. METHODS: This descriptive study used individual patient interviews to elicit views on interprofessional rounding from 35 patients at a large, urban hospital. RESULTS: The findings identified three major categories: 1) about the rounding process; 2) clinical information; and 3) the impact/value of bedside inter-professional rounding. DISCUSSION: Intentionally eliciting and responding to our patients' views of interprofessional rounding may help us design methods that are patient centered and effective.