Cross-sectional evaluation of pharmaceutical care competences in nurse education: how well do curricula prepare students of diferent educational levels?

Abstract

Background Nurses play an important role in interprofessional pharmaceutical care. Curricula related to pharmaceutical care, however, vary a lot. Mapping the presence of pharmaceutical care related domains and competences in nurse educational programs can lead to a better understanding of the extent to which curricula ft expectations of the labour market. The aim of this study was to describe 1) the presence of pharmaceutical care oriented content in nursing curricula at diferent educational levels and 2) nursing students’ perceived readiness to provide nurse pharmaceutical care in practice. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used. Nursing schools in 14 European countries ofering educational programs for levels 4–7 students were approached between January and April 2021. Through an online survey fnal year students had to indicate to what extent pharmaceutical care topics were present in their curriculum. Results A total of 1807 students participated, of whom 8% had level 4–5, 80% level 6, 12% level 7. Up to 84% of the students indicated that pharmaceutical care content was insufciently addressed in their curriculum. On average 14% [range 0–30] felt sufciently prepared to achieve the required pharmaceutical care competences in practice. In level 5 curricula more pharmaceutical care domains were absent compared with other levels. Conclusions Although several pharmaceutical care related courses are present in current curricula of level 4–7 nurses, its embedding should be extended. Too many students perceive an insufcient preparation to achieve pharmaceutical care competences required in practice. Existing gaps in pharmaceutical care should be addressed to ofer more thoroughly prepared nurses to the labour market.