Collaboratively planning for medicines administration competency: a survey evaluation.

AIMS This survey evaluated the experiences of mental health nurses who had undergone assessment of their competence in the administration of medicines using established assessment frameworks. BACKGROUND Medicines management activities have at times been widely criticized. Joint collaborations between Higher Education Authorities and the National Health Service in education and training can start to address some of these criticisms. METHOD A questionnaire using 22 closed and open response questions was distributed to 827 practising mental health nurses and 44 graduate mental health nurses. RESULTS A total of 70 registered and 41 graduate mental health nurses who had completed the assessment of administration competency frameworks responded to the survey. Response rates were 24 and 96%, respectively. The assessment frameworks were received positively. Environmental factors were perceived as the main barrier to medicines safety; however, this was not reflected in how this aspect of the competency framework was perceived. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT The administration of medicines is an area of mental health and all fields of nursing practice that needs attention. The use of competency frameworks as outlined in the 'Medicine with Respect Project' is one strategy to achieve the improvement in this essential clinical skill.