Nurses' perceptions of how physical environment affects medication errors in acute care settings Introduction "Medication errors results from the interaction of multiple factors that include regulatory environment, organizational leadership and commitment, management policies and procedures, complexity of tasks involved, work culture, and physical environment" (Chaudhury, Mahmood, & Valente, 2009, p. 229). Health care services that nurses perform in the hospital environments are physically and psychologically intense, which can potentially result in burnout, stress, and medication errors. Crowded and poorly designed work spaces are factors that contribute to staff stress, resulting in the risk of increase medication errors (Chaudhury et al., 2009). Ulrich, Zimring, Quan, Joseph, and Choudhary, 2004 (as cited in Chaudhury et al., 2009) "argued that reduction of nursing staff stress and error by physical environmental dimensions (such as air quality, acoustics, lighting, and so on) can have a significant impact on staff health and efficiency" (p. 230). There is limited research on the how physical environment affects medication errors. For this study, the research question was: "What is the nurses' perception of the role of the physical …show more content…
Environmental characteristics such as the location of the medication room (n 28, 34.1 and the medication dispensation method (n 28, 34.6%) were rated "somewhat helpful." Environmental characteristics rated as "somewhat problematic" were the nursing station layout (n 26, 31.7%), size of the medication room (n = 29, 34.9%), and heating and cooling systems (n =- 28, 33.7%). Lack of privacy in the nursing stations (n 32, 38.6%) and visibility to all areas of the nursing unit (n 31, 37.8%) were rated the most problematic environmental characteristics (Chaudhury et al.,
Objective One During my clinical day three, I demonstrated entry-level competence in professional nursing practice in caring for patients with multiple and/or complex unmet human needs. I addressed safety needs, safety in medication administration, effective communication, and surveillance for my patients. First, I addressed safety needs my ensuring the appropriate safety measures were implemented for the patients. Some of the safety measures included, wearing non-skid socks, wearing a yellow armband which indicated fall risk, keeping the bed in lowest position, two side rails up, bed locked, and the call light within reach.
Nursing Bedside Reporting, Patient Safety, And Satisfaction Scores The American Nurses Association estimates that up to 80% of serious medical errors involve miscommunication between caregivers when patients are transferred or handed off during shift report (ANA 2012). In the nursing profession change of shifts require the successful transfer of information from nurse to nurse to prevent medical errors and adverse events (Sullivan, 2010). Research shows that when patients are included and engaged in their health care there is greater potential to lead to measurable improvements in safety and quality of care.
As future Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) we have a huge role in improving patient outcomes within our microsystems. The Joint Commission has recognized the CNL role as being a important contribution to the resolution of healthcare’s safety concerns (Reid, 2013). The CNL role not only improves safety but also manages and improves the overall quality of patient care experiences. For my quality improvement project I plan to design and implement a intervention that will improve the patient experiences on a busy psychiatric unit.
This study compared the environmental factors in an open ward and compared the results to those collected in the single-family rooms (SFRs). The researchers found that humidity particulates, noise, and exposure to bright light were decreased in the SFRs. In the SFRs there were also decreased ventilator needs, a decrease in days that infants were on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a faster transition to enteral feedings with breastmilk, and a decrease in nosocomial infections. This study
General Description and Role The International Council for Nurses (ICN) defines nursing as “encompassing autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings” (Car-Hill & Currie, 2012). Nurses also help promote health and wellness as well as how to prevent illness and how to care for the ill, disabled, and dying people (Car-Hill & Currie, 2012). The sense of caring helps nurses to improve the quality of life of individuals (“What Do You Know about Nurses and Their Services, 2010”).
These hospital stressors are caused 11 by the demanding events and environmental features associated with hospitalization. Some examples of stressors associated with hospitalization are pain, worry due to impending surgery, unknown diagnostic procedures, and uncertainty. Compounded is the patient’s loss of control over their environment, for instance, loss of privacy, depersonalization through bureaucracy, uniform attire (hospital gown), visiting hours, structured activities, and disruption in social relationships and job activities (Cooper Marcus and Barnes 1999,
Nurses play an essential role in the healthcare industry. The nurse workforce is made up of licensed nurses: registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), along with nurse aides. Registered nurses are responsible for assessments of patients’ needs, development of care plans, medication administration, and treatments, while licensed vocational nurses perform specific care under the delegation of the registered nurses and supervisions. Nursing aides perform activities of daily living (unskilled attention) to the patient. Adequate nursing staffing is essential to both patient care and outcomes, also to the retention of nurses while inadequate staffing creates problems for both the patients and
INTRODUCTION Ten concepts will be considered from the 12 modules in subject (4) research and nursing research. There will be identification of each concept with a critical analysis of each. Related research work will be looked into, how it applies to my current job, and their usefulness to the current world. TEN CONCEPTS/ THEORIES Concept of research methodology was taken from module 1 under introduction to research, as well as scope of nursing research , concept of evidence based practice was taken from module 2 and ethics in research . In module 3 nursing research was analysed, literature review was from module4.
A primary factor in risking patient safety is to have a high nurse-to-patient ratio. Hospitals and nursing homes must have policies and guidelines in place for the nurse-to-patient ratios, but the policies are continuously fluctuating to compensate for the shortage. In order for nurses to want to stay in this field, benefits and policies need to be modified. Everything is like a domino effect, if the nurses aren’t well rested and able to work properly the patients suffer. “Examining survey data from 95,499 nurses, we found much higher job dissatisfaction and burnout among nurses who were directly caring for patients in hospitals and nursing homes than among nurses working in other jobs or settings, such as the pharmaceutical industry.
The importance for the nursing community to be involved in patients safety encompasses the method from health policy legislation to local system policy. We discussed in earlier chapter nurses must become familiar with the legislative process that dictates nurses work environment, safety, and ultimately affects patient care and outcomes (Wallace, & Ivanov, 2014). Therefore nurses must commit to patient safety by creating a healthy work environment in which teamwork and communication are utilized as an essential daily task as outlined in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Healthy Work Environment Standards of Care (Wallace, & Ivanov,
Large patient loads combined with a stressful work environment affects nurses’ abilities to provide quality healthcare. Patient safety should never be compromised. It is our responsibility to learn from research and improve our current nurse staffing ratios. Nurse staffing is key and affects all other outcomes. Without nurses administering the right treatment at the right time to the right patients, all other healthcare interventions are not effective.
Introduction: The goal of every nurse leader is to establish and sustain a healthy work environment for nursing staff. This must be a priority if nurses are to make their optimal contributions to caring for critical care patients and their families. The link between healthy work environments and patient safety, nurse retention and recruitment are well documented in the nursing literature. Nursing organizations like American Association of Critical Care (AACN) believe that all workplaces where nurses practice can be healthy if nurses and nurse leaders are determined to address not only the physical environment, but also the less tangible barriers to staff and patient safety; e.g. skilled and effective communication, collaboration among disciplines and effective decision making. Continuity of care, especially in the critical care environment is essential to overcoming the obstacles of missed communication opportunities, nurse dependence on a medical model for the plan of care, and multiple disciplines practicing in silos.
Critical Appraisal Qualitative Research Article M. Sofi Goerdt University of Mary Introduction Nursing research has been defined as a systematic inquiry to develop knowledge regarding issues of importance to nurses (Polit & Beck, 2017). Utilizing evidence-based practice, nurses are able to integrate research findings into clinical practice and clinical decisions (Polit & Beck, 2017). There are two paradigms that support nursing research: the positivist paradigm and the constructivist paradigm (Polit & Beck, 2017). The positivist paradigm is associated with quantitative research and utilizes scientific and statistical methods to gather and analyze evidence to affect nursing practice (Polit & Beck). Qualitative research, on the other
While a patient navigator can guide a patient through the complex healthcare system, he/she can also facilitate interdependency such that synergy emerges between healthcare professionals. This process is depicted by the bidirectional arrow in Appendix A. To promote IDC, many literatures suggest incorporating interdisciplinary professional practice in curriculum and having interdisciplinary team training programs; however, these tactics do not address the immediate organizational constraints (resources, support, time and funding), which is another major culprit to ineffective IDC (Hermann, Head, Black & Singleton, 2016; O’Connor & Fisher, 2011). Professionals and even patients have reported time constraints as a barrier to developing team
The nurses intentional actions in this respect strengthen patients and significant others. And as a result of this patients seek healthy behaviors that improve the totality of their health and comfort. Above all the ability of the nurse meeting the basic human needs is comfort. PERSONAL LIFE