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Research paper on medication errors
Medication error risks
Research paper on medication errors
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When reviewing the case of Julie’s nurse and the medication error that occurred I would want to know more. Additional information I would gather would include any hospital protocols for similarly named patients. If protocols are in place, have there been any classes, education or awareness for the staff to recognize and implement these protocols. I would also like to know if there is a list of commonly an easily mixed up medications available on the unit for the staff to see and be aware of during their shift. According to the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) clonidine and klonopin are easily confused drug names (Institute of Safe Medicine Practices (ISMP) (2015).
I would also like to know the unit protocols for receiving medications,
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An easy way to start would be to have signs and notifications for identifying. The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology states “In order to prevent medication errors and reduce the risks of harm, organizations need tools to detect them (2009).” Just like with fall prevention having a clear marker on all of the patients information and room would be a quick reminder of the situation to all healthcare personnel involved with the care of a patient. The recognition of similarities could also be mentioned at morning huddle when all other broader topics of the unit are discussed. Initiating policy where only the nurse for that patient can sort through and designate medications for their patient will help to minimize confusion on which drug goes to which patient. There was failure in the room as well with the medication administration. Having the unit setup so that a patient identifier has to be scanned in order for the computer to acknowledge the administration of the medication will help as a reminder for nurses to check patients, drugs and dosage before administration. Having these tools in place will only be validated by occasional unbiased audits of the system. Lastly, for the unit to prevent further medication errors we will have to provide educational resources and instruction to the staff on the implementation of new policies. This can be achieved with a multi-faceted approach that includes e-mails, discussion at staff meetings, online modules and tests, and/or mandatory class
...estions if not 100% sure of something or use a double checking system. When a nurse is administrating medication, they should use the ten rights of medication administration (right patient, right drug, right route, right time, right dose, right documentation, right action, right form, right response, and right to refuse). Nurses should always keep good hand hygiene and always wear appropriate clothing to prevent from the spread of disease. Good communication with patients and healthcare team members is also key to success. Keeping on the eye on the patient within an appropriate time is important. If the patient ever seems to be looking different than their usual self vitals should be taken immediately. Encouraging patients to ask questions if they are unaware of something can prevent errors as well. Nurses should make sure the patient is on the same page as they are.
Many medication errors occur due to abbreviated words symbols, and dosage that cant be read and become misunderstood. These mistakes can cause harm if no one notices it. Many patients end up with a life threatening problem due to a medical error. A nurse might give the patient the wrong dose because of the handwritten abbreviation the doctor wrote is not clear. Many abbreviations are similar and this can cause complication. If abbreviations are similar the best thing to do is write the abbreviation completely out and always ask if not sure. Providing unabbreviated prescriptions, communication, and writing all abbreviations out can reduce errors in the healthcare setting. Another consideration would be to make sure in the healthcare setting written policies are mentioned and used.
Throughout the Practical Nursing program, there has been many opportunities to closely observe working nurses in different hospitals and facilities. It also has been a great chance to grasp the general idea about professionalism in the workplace and how it can have a great impact in a successful work environment. Combining what was observed and what was learnt from the class, there were three particular aspects of professionalism that seemed to be key characteristics of professional nurses: knowledge from continuous education, autonomy, and positivity. Out of all other characteristics for professionalisms in nursing, those three were the most remarkable features found from the some of the great nurses observed from the clinical sites.
Most undergraduate nursing students are not being properly educated on proper medication administration. Clinical instructors and registered nurses need to be updated on medication administration reporting, so students do not develop bad habits when they become registered nurses. Registered nurses must also continue their education on med error prevention to prevent future errors. Another significant problem with registered nurses was that they did not have positive attitudes when reporting an error. Once these negative attitudes were changed, more errors were reported (Harding & Petrick, 2008). The three main problems that cause medication errors...
Baccalaureate nurses are responsible for providing and ensure our patients safety. The knowledge from others mistakes can help informs nurses of extra precautions that we can take to ensure our patient’s safety. Risk Analysis and Implication for practice course helped me understand the steps I as a nurse can take as well as the facilities I work for to help reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Interviewing the pharmacist help me get a better insight to what facilities already have in place to help prevent medication errors. However like most things you have to have educated and compassionate caring staff to enforce and follow the guidelines set in place.
Medication Errors one of the biggest issues happening in an acute care setting today . Although, Medications are given based on the five rights principles: the right patient, right medication, right route, right dose, and right time. Even with the five rights principles medication errors are still happening. However, some of the errors that are occurring are due to poor order transcriptions and documentation, drug interactions, proper drug name and not paying enough attention and environment factors.
There are many who believe that the next shortage will be worse and the demand for nurses will increase. There will be more jobs available especially with the baby boomer nurses retiring. Wood believes that when nurses retire, the next shortage could be even worse than the previous shortage. According to Wood this would lead to an “intellectual drain of institutional and professional nursing knowledge” (Wood, 2011, para 15). Staiger agrees as well that a shortage of nurses is expected again when nurses retire and since the economy will be more stable full-time nurses will go back to being part-time (Huston, 2017). Huston expects for the supply of nurses to grow minimally in the next couple of years and for a large number of nurses
Agyemang, REO, and A While. "Medication errors: types, causes and impact on nursing practice." British Journal of Nursing (BJN) 19.6 (2010): 380-385. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
Ethical dilemmas are the issues that nurses have to encounter everyday regardless of where their workplaces are. These problems significantly impact both health care providers and patients. Patient safety is the most priority in nursing and it can be jeopardized by a slight mistake. Medication errors and reporting medication errors have been major problems in health care. Errors with medications have been found to be the most common cause of adverse drug effects (Brady, Malone, Fleming, 2009). Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago conducted a research in 2012 that approximately forty percent of the hospitalized clients have encountered a medication error (Lahue et al., 2012). A nurse’s role is to identify and report these medication errors immediately in order to stop or minimize any possible harm to the patients. Ethical moral dilemmas arise when reporting the mistakes that have been made by one’s own colleagues, acquaintances, peers, or physicians.
Nurse’s should have a strong pharmaceutical knowledge background and be aware of the potential harm a medication could cause. In the process of medication administration, registered nurses are responsible to “determine that each medication order is clear, accurate, current and complete”. Medications should be withheld when a medication order is incomplete, illegible, ambiguous or inappropriate; with concerns being clarified with the prescriber (CNO, 2015)”. The critical care nurse demonstrated ineffective communication, which was shown by failing to ask the physician for clarification. Another instance of miscommunication is during medication reconciliation, which is a formal process in which healthcare providers work together to ensure that patient medication information is communicated consistently and accurately across transitions of care (Etchells, 2012).
Tzeng, H., Yin, C., & Schneider, T. E. (2013). Medication Error-Related Issues In Nursing Practice. MEDSURG Nursing, 22(1), 13-50.
1. What is the difference between a. and a. Which K, S, and A pertain to the care you provided to the patient you have chosen? Why do you need to be a member? K- Describe the limits and boundaries of therapeutic patient-centered care. S- Assess levels of physical and emotional comfort.
Medication errors made by medical staff bring about consequences of epidemic proportions. Medical staff includes everyone from providers (medical doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) to pharmacists to nurses (registered and practical). Medication errors account for almost 98,000 deaths in the United States yearly (Tzeng, Yin, & Schneider, 2013). This number only reflects the United States, a small percentage in actuality when looking at the whole world. Medical personnel must take responsibility for their actions and with this responsibility comes accountability in their duties of medication administration. Nurses play a major role in medication error prevention and education and this role distinguishes them as reporters of errors.
Drug administration forms a major part of the clinical nurse’s role. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor and dispensed by the pharmacist but responsibility for correct administration rests with the registered nurse (O'Shea 1999). So as a student nurse this has become my duty and something that I need to practice and become competent in carrying it out. Each registered nurse is accountable for his/her practice. This practice includes preparing, checking and administering medications, updating knowledge of medications, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, reporting adverse drug reactions and teaching patients about the drugs that they receive (NMC 2008). Accountability also goes for students, if at any point I felt I was not competent enough to dispensing a certain drug it would be my responsibility in speaking up and let the registered nurses know, so that I could shadow them and have the opportunity to learn help me in future practice and administration.
I was also responsible for monitoring medication orders and reviewing patient profiles to ensure that the proper drugs and dosages were prescribed and that the pharmacy technician had prepared them properly. In many instances there were mistakes made in the preparation phase and sometimes even before, with incorrect dosages or drugs being prescribed and prepared, which could result in serious adverse effects for the patient. A clinical pharmacist’s role, however, is to make sure that these mistakes never reach the