The Importance Of Medication Errors

Reporting medication errors is beneficial to improve the learning process for nurses. The factors of workload, ineffective communication, and distraction all contribute to medication errors (Sears et al., 2013). Nurses often excuse the behavior of colleagues when a medication error occurs, or nurses will pass the buck to a senior nurse to report the medication error (Haw, Stubbs and Dickens, 2014). Implementing a no blame policy for reporting medication errors, and providing nurses with the knowledge and training to report medication errors will result in an increase of medication errors reported.

The idea remains that the dispersal of stable patients to MNAs in regards to medication administration allocates more time for RNs/LPNs to prioritize care for critical patients. A stable patient is defined by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing as one “whose overall health status, as assessed by a licensed nurse, is at the expected baseline”. Research conducted by Randolph and Scott-Cawiezell revealed trends in medication errors prior to and following the integration of MNAs. “Before the introduction of medication aides, error rates were as follows: RN (11.55%) and LPN (10.12%) with a mean error rate of 10.4%. Six months after the introduction of medication aides, error rates were as follows: RN (2.75%), LPN (7.25%) and medication aides (6.06%) with a mean error rate of 6.6%” Randolph & Scott-Calwiezell (2010) as cited in Budden (2011). While errors remain, the objective of reducing inaccuracies among primary nursing staff was achieved by

Medication errors are defined as faults in drug prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, monitoring, ordering, and/or administration. These errors have significant potential for injuring or even killing a patient. Discussed below is an article that highlights the dangers of inaccurate drug administration.

As the number of medication errors continues to rise daily, I believe the need for continuous advocacy at government level for safer medication administration policies and systems are in desperate need. And who better than nurses to advocate for these needs. Since nurses are in an ideal position to influence and demand change, I would collaborate with other fellow nurses to call, set up meetings or writing letters to government officials addressing the prevalence and effects of medication errors. I would also request for safer medication administration system or software that are user friendly. Lastly I would reach out to the Board of Nursing about nurse’s license revocation after an error is committed and request for lesser punishment instead

Administration of medications has become more complex and the process more exacting. About 15% of adverse events occurring in hospitals are related to medication. An estimated 98,000 people die every year from medical errors in U.S. hospitals, and a significant number of those deaths are associated with medication errors (Tzeng, Yin & Schneider, 2013). About 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to ADEs annually ("Medication safety basics," August ). These errors occur commonly when the nurse becomes easily distracted and loses focus on the task at hand. Thus, causing him/her to miscalculate the dosage prescribed by the physician. This allows the nurse responsible the

In conclusion, in all healthcare settings medical errors occur but it doesn’t only effect the person responsible: all members of the healthcare team are affected. Pharmacy technicians are also capable of identifying any potential or actual errors and report it before the medication is distributed. Since patient safety is universal among all other healthcare practitioners is it important for them to advocate a safe and healing environment for patient

To create an environment where these errors are a rare occurrence, all healthcare professionals must dedicate themselves to implementing QSEN's six core competencies each and every day. These professionals must also speak up when they see room for improvement in their workplace. Regardless of the healthcare setting or demographic of patients, safe outcomes are the purpose of providing patient-centered care. Since nurses are the largest subgroup of healthcare professionals, their ability to make strides towards improved medication administration is undeniable. As the nursing code of ethics states, nurses have the duty to protect the health and safety of those in their care (Winland-Brown, Lachman, O'Connor Swanson, 2015). By taking extra caution to administer medications correctly, this honorable obligation will always be within

The first way would be to check the 5 rights more than once and very carefully. The right patient determination is essential, and typically two-forms of identification are required. This can include checking the patients identification bracelet, asking the patient to state their name and date of birth, or scanning the barcode on the ID bracelet. The nurse must also confirm any allergies. The nurse must have the knowledge to determine if the drug prescribed is the correct drug, correct dose, correct route, and the correct time. To properly read the medication order the nurse must know all of the components and appropriately question anything that is unclear to them (Kee, 2012). To avoid drug error the drug order should be read three times. The fist check is when you review the MD order. The second check is to review the MD order with the eMar or Mar and the last check is to review the eMar or Mar with the medication. Another way the nurse can avoid medication error is to wear a safety vest that alters others they are not to be disturbed when administering

This is generally a nationwide priority particularly focused on preventing medical errors before they can occur and cause either death, permanent injury or temporary harm.(Nursingcentre.com,2015).Statistically, medical errors affect 1 in 10 patients worldwide (Who.int,2015), and implications could include death, permanent injury, financial loss or psychological harm to the patient or in some situations to the caregiver (Nursingcentre.com,2015).Therefore

This discussion is an excellent example and perception of the nursing scope of practice. Often, nurses understand what is within their scope of practice, and never think of what they are not allowed to do within their scope of practice pertaining to the setting they work in. While administering medications to patients is within our scope of practice, having the knowledge of why we are administering it and if it is appropriate to administer is also our responsibility.

Recognizing, acknowledging, and understanding medication safety is important when administering medications. Understanding which medications are high-risk ones, being familiar with the medications being given, remembering the five most important rights when administering medications, communicating clearly, developing checking habits, and reporting the medication errors will lead to safe outcomes for the residents. However, errors do occur from a lack of experience, rushing, distractions, fatigue, doing too many things at once, not double checking, poor communication, and lack of team work. It is not only the staff that commit errors, but also the work environment that contributes to the medication error. Two examples are poor reporting systems

Medications should be prepared for immediate administration to a single patient and not retained for later use due to the risks of contamination, potential instability, potential mix-up with other medications and to maintain security of the medication

Yvonne, your post was extremely intriguing to me as a community health department is not an environment I have had the privilege of experiencing. Interestingly, the utilization of computerized order entry does not prevent the prescriber from ordering an incorrect medication dose or the wrong drug (Lapane, Waring, Dube’, & Schneider, 2011). Do the facility employ process to assure nurses are checking the medication in order to avoid the administration of an incorrect drug or dosage?

In a report by the Institute of Medicine (2006), Titled, Preventing Medication Errors, “The committee concludes that there are at least 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADE’s) that occur in the United States each year.” These numbers are astonishing given the number of adults that are taking prescription medications daily. Most of the errors occur during the prescribing and administering steps and during an average hospital stay, a patient can expect to have one medication error occur every day (Institute of Medicine, 2006).

According to estimates, at least 1.5 million preventable medication errors and adverse drug events occur each year in the United States. One-third of all medication errors occur during the administration phase of medication delivery (Durham, 2015). Medication safety is freedom from preventable harm with medication use; therefore, nurses must promote patient safety by understanding their contributions to the prevention of medication error (Choo, Hutchinson, & Bucknall, 2010). Additionally, a medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional. Thus, to promote medication safety, nurses must understand their roles in proper medication management and identify challenges that associated with medication safety.