Developing evidence‐based medication therapy management tools for psychiatric nurses: An evaluative qualitative case study.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: Clinical use of psychotropic medications involves diverse risks, addressable by nursing interventions. The research had a dual purpose: developing an "Evidence‐Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline" and a "Medication Administration‐Tracking Chart" and evaluating their use through an evaluative case study. Methods: Evidence‐based guideline and chart development and evaluative case study. Initially, Evidence‐Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline and Medication Administration Tracking Chart for managing medication in a psychiatric unit were developed. Subsequently, their efficacy was evaluated in a case study involving 10 participating nurses used in the psychiatric unit with 123‐bed of a training and research hospital in Turkey. Data was collected through personal forms, interviews, medication charts, and researcher observations, and the analysis employed Merriam's case study method. Results: Three themes (inception, implementation, termination, and sustainers) and 12 sub‐themes emerged. Nurses stated that the research tools filled their information gaps, enhancing the medication therapy management process's effectiveness and safety, improving nursing care quality and continuity, and benefiting patient outcomes. Nurses expressed a desire to consistently use the tools in the unit and provided suggestions. Conclusion: Nurses highlighted the tools' potential to enhance medication safety, psychiatric care, and patient outcomes. However, their stance on using evidence‐based tools revealed an approach/avoidance conflict, balancing benefits and barriers. Experience emerged as a hindrance in embracing evidence‐based clinical tools. This study is among the first to comprehensively develop evidence‐based medication management guideline and administration‐tracking chart for psychiatric nurses globally and in our country. Routine use of the tools is expected to enhance nurses' expertise in psychotropic medication management, leading to improved patient outcomes in medication‐related aspects. Plain language summary: The management of psychotropic medications is intricate, with nurses playing a pivotal role in multiple stages of the process. Effective medication management significantly impacts various clinical conditions and patient outcomes. Nurses often require both theoretical knowledge and practical guidance to navigate this process effectively. To address this need, this study consolidated the best available evidence to develop a guide and chart aimed at facilitating medication management for nurses. These clinical tools were subsequently implemented and tested within a psychiatric clinic. The results indicated that nurses found these tools to enhance their knowledge, improve the safety and efficacy of medication therapy, elevate the quality and consistency of nursing care, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes. However, challenges were noted, particularly concerning the utilization of evidence‐based tools, which were negatively influenced by nursing experience and clinical workload. Nurses experienced tension between workload and patient care optimization. Nurses expressed a desire for more streamlined formats in the future, emphasizing the ongoing need for efficient and practical resources in medication management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]