Graduate nurses' communication with health professionals when managing patients' medications.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to examine how graduate nurses communicated with other health professionals about their medication management activities in the acute care context. The objectives were to determine the types of information communicated about patients' medications and the communication processes used during interactions with other nurses, doctors and pharmacists.

BACKGROUND: Graduate nurses are challenged with enormous responsibilities and their competence is constantly tested in an ever-changing arena. One of their responsibilities involves communicating with other health professionals about patients' medications.

DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory research design was used for this study.

METHODS: Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit information from 12 graduate nurses with university degrees employed in a metropolitan public hospital, in Melbourne, Australia. Graduate nurses were observed once for two hours and interviewed on the same day of the observation at a mutually convenient time. The purpose of these interviews was to clarify activities observed and to obtain further information.

RESULTS: The results highlighted how work dynamics of the clinical setting had an impact on the ability of graduate nurses to communicate effectively with other nurses, doctors and pharmacists. These work dynamics included the availability of doctors and the structure of ward rounds. The results also demonstrated the value graduate nurses placed on communicating particular information such as evaluating the effect of medication changes and organizing discharge medication.

CONCLUSIONS: Graduate nurses were effective in communicating about medication management activities when they initiated or were prepared for such interactions. When graduate nurses were not prepared, such as during impromptu ward rounds, they did not participate effectively and important information was not communicated.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is important to understand how collegial communication facilitates accurate exchange of information and effective decision-making to achieve optimal health care outcomes for patients.