Cited by 11Healthcare Decision-Making and RestraintsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchGeriatric Care and Nursing Homes

Exploring acute care nurses' decision-making in psychotropic PRN use in hospitalised people with dementia

Walsh, Brittany, Dahlke, Sherry, O’Rourke, Hannah, Hunter, Kathleen F.·2022·Journal of Clinical Nursing

Abstract

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand how acute care nurses make decisions about administering "as-needed" (PRN) psychotropic medications to hospitalised people with dementia (PWD). BACKGROUND: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia occur in approximately 75% of PWD admitted to acute care. Despite this, few studies provide insight into the use and prevalence of psychotropic use in acute care. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore acute care nurses' decision-making about PRN psychotropic medication administration to PWD. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight nurses from three acute care medical units in a large tertiary hospital in Western Canada. Conventional content analysis was used to develop three themes that reflect nurses' decision-making related to administering PRNs to hospitalised PWD. COREQ guidelines were followed. RESULTS: Three themes of legitimising control, making the patient fit and future telling were developed. Legitimising control involved medicating undesirable behaviours to promote the nurses' perceptions of safety. Making the patient fit involved maintaining routine and order. Future telling involved pre-emptively medicating to prevent undesirable behaviours from escalating. Nurses provided little to no mention of assessing for physical causes contributing to behaviours. PRNs were seen as a reasonable alternative to physical restraints and were frequently used. Additionally, organisational and unit routines greatly influenced nurses' decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide an initial understanding of how nurses make decisions to administer PRN medications to hospitalised older people and may inform prescribing practices. There were novel findings about the lack of assessment prior to PRN administration, and the nurses' collective response in decision-making. More research is needed to better understand the complexities of nurses' decision-making, to assist in the development of interventions for nursing practice.

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Crossref · 10.1111/jocn.15477

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  • In seven studies, psychotropic medication was used to manage behaviours and BPSD.

    “In seven studies, psychotropic medication was used to manage behaviours and BPSD [49, 53, 57, 63, 65, 80, 81].”
  • Some doctors expressed the view that prescribing medication to aid sleep helped care home staff more than care home residents and preferred alternative approaches such as giving space to residents to wander safely at night.

    “Some doctors expressed the view that prescribing medication to aid sleep helped care home staff more than care home residents and preferred alternative approaches such as giving space to residents to wander safely at night [53, 59, 63, 80].”
  • The importance of a holistic assessment of any underlying needs such as pain or constipation which may be causing distress was highlighted by healthcare professionals.

    “The importance of a holistic assessment of any underlying needs such as pain or constipation which may be causing distress was also highlighted by healthcare professionals [49, 53, 57, 80, 81].”
  • Difficulties identified included establishing a clear diagnosis, communication difficulties and increased sensitivity to the side effects of psychotropic medication in older people.

    “Difficulties that were identified included: establishing a clear diagnosis [56, 62], communication difficulties [56, 80] and the increased sensitivity to the side effects of psychotropic medication in older people.”
  • Doctors and nurses were of the view that assessing whether psychotropic medication was appropriate in older people was challenging.

    “Doctors and nurses were of the view that assessing whether psychotropic medication was appropriate in older people was challenging [49, 53–56, 62, 65, 80–82].”

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Authors
Walsh, B., Dahlke, S., O’Rourke, H., & Hunter, K. F.
Affiliations
University of Alberta (CA)
Corresponding author
Dahlke, Sherry
Venue
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-09-18
Volume
31
Issue
13-14
Pages
2024-2035
ISSN
  • 0962-1067 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2702
OpenAlex
W3035955056
Cited by
11
References
65
Citations by year
2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2
FWCI
0.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Nursing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
Keywords
acute care nurses, nursing decision-making, psychotropic drugs, as-needed medication, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, physical restraint, organizational routines, older adults, drug prescribing
MeSH terms
Aged, Attitude of Health Personnel, Dementia, Hospitalization, Humans, Nurses, Psychotropic Drugs, Qualitative Research

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