Understanding the Role of Assistant Nurses in Nursing Homes

Assistant nurses (ANs) play a big part in taking care of older people in nursing homes. But, there is a problem. Many ANs do not know enough about medicines and the issues that can come with them. This lack of knowledge can lead to serious problems for the people they care for. A study wanted to find out how ANs see their role in preventing drug-related problems (DRPs). It also looked at what ANs think about their own knowledge of medicines and the health issues of older people. Lastly, the study asked ANs what kind of medical education they would like to have in the future. The study found that ANs feel they are important in spotting and preventing DRPs. They see themselves as the eyes and ears of the nurses. But, they also feel they do not have enough knowledge about medicines and the health problems of older people. This lack of knowledge can be dangerous. It can lead to mistakes in giving medicines. These mistakes can harm the people in nursing homes. The study shows that ANs want more education. They want to learn more about medicines and how to take care of older people. The study also found that ANs want to work more closely with nurses. They want to be able to talk to nurses about any problems they see. This way, they can help prevent DRPs before they become serious.