Medication Errors in Nursing Medication errors are a very serious concern to nursing staff. A medication error occurs when the wrong medication is given to a patient resulting in potential serious harm that could have been prevented (Hidle)
It is not known why this is, but it is thought that unfamiliarity with the technology, lack of training, and lack of involvement in the design of the software has caused this reluctance. Studies have shown that when used medical software has reduced medication errors due to administration (King)
Medication errors occur at a high rate with death occurring as frequently as once a day due to adverse drug events (ADE) (Menachemi and Brooks). Yet, it is thought that a good deal more go unreported due to fear of retribution (Lefleur)
A medication error occurs when the wrong medication is given to a patient resulting in potential serious harm that could have been prevented (Hidle). Medication errors occur at a high rate with death occurring as frequently as once a day due to adverse drug events (ADE) (Menachemi and Brooks)
Also, personal negligence due to distractions and heavy work load were the top two reasons that lead to medication errors according to a group of nurses (Tang). One study suggests creating interruption free zones such as around the medication cart or while a nurse is giving out medications, denoted by wearing a red vest, would be a possible solution (McGillis Hall)
It was scary for the whole family. There are four steps involved in giving the correct medication to a patient beginning with a prescription from the doctor, to transcription, dispensing, and finally administration (Tang 448)
alone, medication errors injure 1.5 million people and cost billions of dollars to the healthcare system annually (Stencel, p
However, a majority of the errors are human in nature. In a recent study, it was found that a computerized physician order entry system significantly reduced the number of medication errors in the pediatric unit of a community hospital (Wang, Herzog, and Kaushal et al
Falls account for ten percent of all visits to the emergency department, and one out of ten results in a serious injury. The following have been associated with an increased risk of falls: arthritis, depressive symptoms, orthostatic, environment factors, cognitive impairment, impaired vision, balance disturbances, gait disturbances, decreased muscle strength, and use of four or more medications (Barber, 2008)
For example, overmedication can occur when a prescription drug like "Vicodin," which contains both "hydrocodone" and acetaminophen, is taken along with the nonprescription product Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen as the active ingredient. As a result, medications may accumulate at higher levels, causing undesired side effects, sometimes serious, even fatal (Deene, 2009)
Moreover, the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis is already required by the Joint Commission, and the process can be easily integrated with current quality assurance methods, making these ongoing efforts more successful as a result (Revere & Black, 2003). These are highly desirable qualities in a healthcare initiative where resources are already scarce, and where any improvements in error rates translate into enormous potential savings and quality of patient care (Bomba & Land, 2006)
The projective objectives are to achieve measurable improvements in benchmarked medication error rates during the duration of the project as set forth below: Clinicians will remember the six rights to reducing medication errors; Clinicians will understand the six rights to reducing medication errors; and, Clinicians will apply the six rights to reducing medication errors in their day-to-day activities in statistically demonstrable ways. Evidence-Based Review of the Literature Despite ongoing efforts to reduce and eliminate medication errors in the clinical setting, a number of errors continue to be made in their administration (Evans, 2009)
Evidence-Based Review of the Literature Despite ongoing efforts to reduce and eliminate medication errors in the clinical setting, a number of errors continue to be made in their administration (Evans, 2009). The implications of medication errors can be profound, and the weight of the responsibility falls on the nursing staff involved (Revere & Black, 2003)
To determine the prevalence and type of medication errors being reported across the country and what healthcare providers are doing about the problem, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed literature followed by a summary of the research and important findings in the conclusion. Review and Discussion Among the various quality assurance measures typically in place in many healthcare settings and one of the key measures of patient safety is the prevalence of medication errors (Anson, 2000)
385). In fact, the majority of adverse drug reaction deaths in the nation's hospitals involve tend to be related to incorrect dosages, and these types of medication errors may represent a leading cause of hospital death in the United States (Daughton, 2003)
11). Based on its analysis of fatal mediation errors reported during the period from 1993 to 1998, the FDA determined that the most common types of errors involved administering an improper dose (41%), providing the incorrect medication (16%), and the use of the incorrect path for administration (16%) (Meadows, 2003)
Right Time 6. Right to refuse must be upheld, regardless of the challenges of the situation (Bullock & Manias 2011)
Medication errors have serious direct and indirect results, and are usually the consequence of breakdowns in a system of care…Ten to 18% of all reported hospital injuries have been attributed to medication errors" (Mayo & Duncan 2004: 209)
Unfortunately, that due diligence does not always take place, and people who want and need the proper medications do not always get them (Helmons, Dalton, & Daniels, 2012). Especially in an ICU, when patients are dealing with critical injuries or sicknesses, an incorrect, missing, or wrongly added medication could result in the worsening of a patient's condition or even the death of that patient (Athanasakis, 2012)
One of the reasons behind the lack of effectiveness is not having enough -- or the right -- measures available to nurses in the ICU (Pape, 2013). Another reason that effectiveness is lacking when it comes to preventing medication errors is that people make mistakes (Crigger & Godfrey, 2014)