Being the nurse’s eyes and ears: a mixed methods study of assistant nurses’ perceptions of their role regarding drug-related problems in nursing homes

The AN's perceived their professional role in preventing DRPs in NHs as being the nurse's eyes and ears for patient safety. Generally, the ANs' self-perceived knowledge of medicines was good, although self-perceived knowledge regarding DRPs, and the physiology of older people, was sparser. A positive attitude towards attending ward rounds to contribute firsthand information on the residents, as well as the opportunity to receive knowledge, existed among the respondents. We propose a working model within the framework of doctor's ward rounds at NHs to increase the knowledge of ANs and utilise their knowledge of patients' well-being for safe medication follow-up.