Other Titles
Building Confidence and Clinical Judgement in Nursing Students through Barcode Medication Simulation [Title Slide]
Abstract
Medication errors are a persistent problem in healthcare, with the Institute of Medicine (2007) highlighting their prevalence, estimated at one error per patient per day in hospitals. Healthcare organizations have increasingly implemented Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) systems to improve medication delivery accuracy. However, many nursing students receive limited exposure to BCMA, which may impede their readiness for practice (Ledlow et al., 2022); (Strudwick et al., 2018). Simulation-based education offers a solution, allowing students to practice essential clinical skills, such as medication administration, in a controlled, risk-free environment (Alexander et al., 2015). High-fidelity simulations improve clinical decision-making, exposing students to realistic scenarios involving BCMA equipment, barcode scanning, medication dispensing, and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) systems (Hoegh-Larsen et al., 2022). This study examines whether integrating BCMA technology in simulation-based nursing education enhances clinical judgment in baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing students, a critical competency for ensuring patient safety.
This mixed-methods study explored the impact of BCMA-integrated simulation on clinical judgment by comparing outcomes between a control group (traditional teaching) and an experimental group (BCMA-integrated simulation) of 60 junior nursing students. Quantitative data was collected using the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR) before and after simulation, while qualitative feedback from focus groups provided insights into students' experiences with BCMA. Results showed no statistically significant improvement in clinical judgment scores based on LCJR assessments, possibly due to a ceiling effect where students had limited room for improvement. However, focus group data revealed that BCMA use increased students' confidence and perceived competence, offering a “safety net” that helped them identify and rectify medication errors.
These findings underscore the importance of incorporating real-world technologies like BCMA into nursing education to enhance competence in medication administration, even if immediate improvements in clinical judgment are not measurable. As healthcare increasingly adopts technology to improve patient outcomes, equipping nursing students with BCMA experience could better prepare them for practice and contribute to reducing medication errors in clinical settings.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Delta Eta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Simulation, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Nursing Education, Advances in Education, Medication Error Reduction, Barcode Medication Administration, BCMA
Recommended Citation
St. Romain, Arielle and Johnson, Sharonda, "Building Confidence and Clinical Judgment in Nursing Students through BCMA Simulation" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 41.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/41
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-19
Building Confidence and Clinical Judgment in Nursing Students through BCMA Simulation
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Medication errors are a persistent problem in healthcare, with the Institute of Medicine (2007) highlighting their prevalence, estimated at one error per patient per day in hospitals. Healthcare organizations have increasingly implemented Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) systems to improve medication delivery accuracy. However, many nursing students receive limited exposure to BCMA, which may impede their readiness for practice (Ledlow et al., 2022); (Strudwick et al., 2018). Simulation-based education offers a solution, allowing students to practice essential clinical skills, such as medication administration, in a controlled, risk-free environment (Alexander et al., 2015). High-fidelity simulations improve clinical decision-making, exposing students to realistic scenarios involving BCMA equipment, barcode scanning, medication dispensing, and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) systems (Hoegh-Larsen et al., 2022). This study examines whether integrating BCMA technology in simulation-based nursing education enhances clinical judgment in baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing students, a critical competency for ensuring patient safety.
This mixed-methods study explored the impact of BCMA-integrated simulation on clinical judgment by comparing outcomes between a control group (traditional teaching) and an experimental group (BCMA-integrated simulation) of 60 junior nursing students. Quantitative data was collected using the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR) before and after simulation, while qualitative feedback from focus groups provided insights into students' experiences with BCMA. Results showed no statistically significant improvement in clinical judgment scores based on LCJR assessments, possibly due to a ceiling effect where students had limited room for improvement. However, focus group data revealed that BCMA use increased students' confidence and perceived competence, offering a “safety net” that helped them identify and rectify medication errors.
These findings underscore the importance of incorporating real-world technologies like BCMA into nursing education to enhance competence in medication administration, even if immediate improvements in clinical judgment are not measurable. As healthcare increasingly adopts technology to improve patient outcomes, equipping nursing students with BCMA experience could better prepare them for practice and contribute to reducing medication errors in clinical settings.
Description
This study examines the impact of integrating Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) technology into simulation-based nursing education using the sim2grow system. BCMA enhances accuracy, safety, and confidence in medication administration while fostering clinical judgment skills in pre-licensure nursing students. A comparison with traditional teaching methods highlights BCMA's potential to improve medication safety and advance nursing education practices.