Nursing Malpractice
Nursing Malpractice
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name
Instructor's Name
Date
What Was Studied? Hypothesis
The study conducted by Durmaz and Doğan (2020) examined malpractice tendencies among nursing students at a public university. The researchers aimed to explore factors contributing to medical errors among nursing students and assess their likelihood of engaging in malpractice. The underlying assumption was that nurses may have a higher risk of committing medical errors due to their close and continuous interaction with patients, which increases both responsibility and exposure to potential risks.
Who Was Studied? Population/Sample
The study focused on second-, third-, and fourth-year nursing students enrolled in a School of Health and Nursing. A total sample of 322 students participated in the research. First-year students were excluded because they had not yet participated in clinical practice, which is essential for evaluating malpractice tendencies. All participants voluntarily consented to take part in the study, ensuring ethical compliance and reliability of responses (Durmaz & Doğan, 2020).
How Was It Studied? Methodology
The researchers employed a quantitative research design using structured questionnaires to collect data. The study was conducted between January 1 and January 30, 2018. Data collection tools included a personal information form and a Malpractice Tendency Scale developed specifically for the study. Participation was voluntary, and confidentiality was assured.
Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics (means and percentages), t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis. These techniques allowed the researchers to evaluate relationships between variables such as gender, academic level, and malpractice tendencies (Durmaz & Doğan, 2020).
What Were the Conclusions? Results
The findings revealed that nursing students generally demonstrated a low tendency toward malpractice. However, several contributing factors were identified across different levels of risk. Mid-level malpractice tendencies were associated with inexperience, poor working conditions, unclear guidelines, lack of focus during shifts, and inadequate documentation. High-level malpractice tendencies were linked to prolonged working hours, fatigue, communication failures, unclear responsibilities, and insufficient training.
Very high-level malpractice risks were attributed to burnout, excessive workload, stress, staff shortages, and assignment of nurses to roles outside their responsibilities. These findings highlight the importance of organizational and environmental factors in influencing malpractice risk.
The study also identified demographic differences. Female students were found to have a lower tendency toward malpractice compared to male students. Additionally, increased job satisfaction was associated with reduced malpractice tendencies. However, no statistically significant differences were found based on age, academic level, or career expectations.
Among the different areas of practice, the highest malpractice tendency was observed in patient falls, while the lowest was related to drug administration and transfusion procedures. This suggests that certain aspects of patient care may require additional training and supervision to reduce risk.
Conclusion
The study provides valuable insights into malpractice tendencies among nursing students and highlights the importance of education, training, and supportive work environments in reducing medical errors. While the overall risk of malpractice among students is low, the identified contributing factors emphasize the need for improved clinical training, better communication, and enhanced organizational support. Addressing these issues can help ensure patient safety and improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
References
Durmaz, Y. Ç., & Doğan, R. (2020). Malpractice tendency of nursing students at a public university. Electronic Turkish Studies, 15(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.29228/TurkishStudies
Durmaz, Y. C., Serin, E. K., Dogan, R., & Isik, K. (2020). Determination of the tendency of imprudent behavior and malpractice in nursing students. Annals of Medical Research, 27(5). https://doi.org/10.5455/annalsmedres.2019.09.571