Understanding Mental Health Nurses' Perceptions of Barcode Medication Administration: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

• Published in: Issues in mental health nursing Vol. 40; no. 4; p. 326
• Main Authors: Xie, Ningshi, Kalia, Kamini, Strudwick, Gillian, Lau, Francis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 03.04.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Canada; Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; Electronic Data Processing; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Systems, Hospital; Middle Aged; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Patient Safety; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Qualitative Research; Young Adult; Canada
• ISSN: 1096-4673
• DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1528321

Barcode medication administration (BCMA) technology has been challenging for mental health nurses to incorporate into their clinical practice despite the potentially positive benefits of using the technology for improving patient safety. A review of the literature identified a number of practices that nurses can use to improve adoption of the technology, however, these practices have been primarily used in non-mental health contexts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand mental health nurses' perceptions of practices identified from the literature to improve BCMA adoption in a mental health inpatient setting. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, ten (n = 10) interviews were conducted with direct care mental health nurses working at a mental health and addiction academic teaching hospital in Canada. Data analysis consisted of a conventional content analysis of the interview transcripts by two independent coders. The following five themes emerged from the transcripts: 1) safety, 2) clinical workflow, 3) education, 4) accountability, and 5) strategies. Sub-themes were also identified within the themes of safety and clinical workflow. Insights gleaned from this study warrant acknowledgement and consideration when implementing strategies to increase BCMA compliance within mental health contexts.