The use of structured assessments, practical skills and performance indicators to assess the ability of pre-registration nursing students' to apply the principles of pharmacology and therapeutics to the medication management needs of patients.

This paper discusses how structured assessments, practical skills and performance indicators can be used to assess the ability of pre-registration nursing students' to analyze and clinically apply the theoretical principles of pharmacology and therapeutics pertinent to medication management. The assessment strategy specifically aims to reinforce the development of clinical reasoning with regard to medication management and supports the need to prepare nurses to become multi-skilled professionals who can meet the challenges of nursing. Learning through practical assessments can enhance the marriage between the integration and synthesis of research evidence and the application of propositional and process knowledge forms to nursing care.

Working together to improve record keeping.

Implementing changes in a hospital setting requires a structured approach to change management. This article describes the process of a project undertaken to improve record keeping in a children's hospital.