Nursing students' performance: administering injections in laboratory and clinical area.

Little research has been done regarding the teaching of psychomotor nursing skills in order to achieve an appropriate level of proficiency. This study examined the skill of parenteral medication administration, comparing laboratory proficiency to clinical proficiency over time. Subjects included 35 associate degree nursing students. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as well as an injection performance skill check list. There was no significant change in the number of errors between the laboratory "check-out" and the first clinical performance, nor was anxiety related to skill performance. Further study related to psychomotor skill acquisition is needed.