Can Practical Knowledge About Medication Safety be Simulated Through a Learning Module for Nursing Students

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of introducing an online learning module to nursing students in the fourth year of a BScN program as a way of (a) increasing student knowledge of specific system factors and their role in medication errors; and (b) increasing student perceptions of competence in identifying specific system factors which contribute to medication errors. Methods: An experimental, prospective, single-blind, pretest posttest design was used. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in knowledge of system factors that contribute to medication errors between those students who participated both in the learning module and clinical experience compared to those students who participated in clinical experience only. Nursing students in fourth year of BScN program who participated in a learning module, in addition to clinical experience had greater perceived competence to identify system factors that contribute to medication errors than students who participated in clinical experience only.