A nursing educational intervention for Safely Administering Medications and Managing Interruptions Pilot (SAMMI-P): a cluster randomised controlled trial (C_RCT).

INTERVENTION: The project will involve two groups ‐ a control group and an intervention group. The practice of the control group will not differ from normal, standard medication administration practice. The intervention group will undertake an investigator‐facilitated 30‐60 minute education program including viewing a 20 minute DVD with details of the incidence of interruptions, behavioural strategies of managing interruptions and simulations of interruptions and panel discussion by nursing leaders on changing ward culture. A register of all nursing staff within wards will be established and attendance will be monitored. Ward posters noting "In the interest of patient safety please do not interrupt nurses administering medications" will be placed within patient areas. CONDITION: Interruptions to medication preparation and administration PRIMARY OUTCOME: The number of interruptions (log of interruptions which occur during medication administration observed by research nurses over a one month period after delivery of the intervention) per 100 medication administration events of nurses receiving an education and simulation experience compared to nurses not receiving education. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Patients' lengths of stay (assessed from electronic medical records) in the intervention wards receiving care from nurses completing the education program and simulation experience will have reduced compared to patients in the control wards over a one month period after delivery of the intervention. The number of nurses' clinical and procedural errors (log of errors observed by research nurses over a one month period after delivery of the intervention) per 100 medication administration events where nurses undertake an education program and simulation experience compared to nurses not receiving education. ; ; ; ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: Nursing Unit Manager of the general medical/surgical clinical areas within major metropolitan hospitals within South Western Sydney Local health District (cluster). Critical care units are excluded from the study. Registered and Enrolled nurses (certified to undertake medication administration) who routinely administer medications to patients. Patients admitted to the intervention and control wards who are receiving one or more medications.