Evaluation of a Gamified Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) System

A Mixed-methods Evaluation of a Gamified Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) System for Use in the Simulated Nursing Education

This research project will evaluate a gamified electronic medication administration record (eMAR) system simulator as a mechanism to improve students' learning of medication administration in simulated clinical education. The gamified eMAR simulator will be evaluated using a pragmatic randomized controlled trial design in order to determine the effectiveness of the game as a technology-enabled, online learning intervention.

The main objective of this study is to examine whether the use of a gamified medication administration simulator improves nursing students' medication administration safety within simulated practice; increases student self-efficacy and knowledge of the medication administration process; and, improves motivational and cognitive processing attributes related to student learning in a technology-enabled environment. It is hoped that by completing this trial, the effectiveness of using an eMAR simulator as an educational tool to better prepare nursing students to administer medications using eMAR technology for practice will be ascertained.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) second year nursing students; and, (2) partaking in clinical simulated education in either in Fall 2017 or Winter 2018 semesters.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (1) A student who is not enrolled the BScN program at the respective site of data collection, in Fall 2017 or Winter 2018.