Cross-sectional evaluation of pharmaceutical care competences in nurse education: how well do curricula prepare students of different educational levels?

De Baetselier, Elyne and E Dijkstra, Nienke and M Batalha, Luis and A Carvalho Ferreira, Paulo and Filov, Izabela and A Grøndahl, Vigdis and Heczkova, Jana and K Helgesen, Ann and Jordan, Sue and Karnjuš, Igor and Kolovos, Petros and Langer, Gero and Lillo-Crespo, Manuel and Malara, Alba and Padyšaková, Hana and Prosen, Mirko and Puszta, Dorina and Raposa, Bence and Riquelme-Galindo, Jorge and Rottková, Jana and GM Sino, Carolien and Talarico, Francesco and Tingle, Nicola and Tziaferi, Styliani and Van Rompaey, Bart and Dilles, Tinne (2024) Cross-sectional evaluation of pharmaceutical care competences in nurse education: how well do curricula prepare students of different educational levels? BMC Nursing, 23 (1). p. 96.

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Abstract

Abstract
Background Nurses play an important role in interprofessional pharmaceutical care. Curricula related to pharmaceutical care, however, vary a lot. Mapping the presence of pharmaceutical care related domains and competences in nurse educational programs can lead to a better understanding of the extent to which curricula fit expectations of the labour market. The aim of this study was to describe 1) the presence of pharmaceutical care oriented content in nursing curricula at different educational levels and 2) nursing students’ perceived readiness to provide nurse pharmaceutical care in practice. Methods A quantitative cross‑sectional survey design was used. Nursing schools in 14 European countries offering educational programs for levels 4–7 students were approached between January and April 2021. Through an online survey final year students had to indicate to what extent pharmaceutical care topics were present in their curriculum. , Results A total of 1807 students participated, of whom 8% had level 4–5, 80% level 6, 12% level 7. Up to 84% of the students indicated that pharmaceutical care content was insufficiently addressed in their curriculum. On average 14% [range 0–30] felt sufficiently prepared to achieve the required pharmaceutical care competences in practice. In level 5 curricula more pharmaceutical care domains were absent compared with other levels. Conclusions Although several pharmaceutical care related courses are present in current curricula of level 4–7 nurses, its embedding should be extended. Too many students perceive an insufficient preparation to achieve pharmaceutical care competences required in practice. Existing gaps in pharmaceutical care should be addressed to offer more thoroughly prepared nurses to the labour market. Keywords Nursing, Competences, Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Education, Pharmaceutical care

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Medical and Health Sciences > Health sciences
Divisions:	Higher Medical School
Depositing User:	Prof. d-r. Izabela Filov
Date Deposited:	18 Aug 2026 08:48
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2026 08:48
URI:	https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/11667

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