Simulation strategies to increase nursing student clinical competence in safe medication administration practices: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Nursing student medication errors often result from deficits in knowledge and application of fundamental safe administration practices. Factors such as high faculty-student ratios and legal restrictions have decreased clinical learning opportunities for nursing students to practice safe medication administration in the clinical setting. Evidence suggests that use of a structured medication safety enhancement (MSE) simulation program can significantly improve student knowledge and competency in safe medication administration.

Early removal of urinary catheter after surgery requiring thoracic epidural: a prospective trial.

Objectives: To prevent urinary retention, urinary catheters commonly are removed only after thoracic epidural discontinuation after thoracotomy. However, prolonged catheterization increases the risk of infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of urinary retention and catheter-associated infection after early catheter removal.