Addressing Medication Errors In Healthcare Settings

Words: 552
Pages: 3
Open Document
Addressing Medication Errors in Healthcare Settings Medication errors pose a significant patient safety risk in healthcare settings, leading to adverse events, increased healthcare costs, and patient harm. This paper examines the factors contributing to medication errors, evidence-based solutions to improve patient safety, the role of nurses in coordinating care, and the stakeholders involved in driving safety enhancements. Factors Leading to Medication Errors Medication errors result from a complex interplay of factors, including human factors, system-related issues, and environmental factors. Human factors such as fatigue, stress, and inadequate training contribute to errors in prescribing, administering, and monitoring medications (Smith …show more content…
Implementing technology solutions like computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, barcode medication administration (BCMA), and automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) can reduce errors by providing decision support, ensuring accurate medication administration, and minimizing medication discrepancies (Kaushal et al., 2020). Additionally, medication reconciliation processes, standardized protocols, and interdisciplinary collaboration have been shown to improve medication safety and reduce adverse events (Smith et al., 2019). 3. Nursing's Role in Coordination: Nurses play a critical role in coordinating care to prevent medication errors and enhance patient safety. Conduct thorough medication reconciliations, educate patients about their medications, and advocate for safe medication practices (ANA, 2018). Nurses also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement medication safety protocols, monitor patients for adverse reactions, and ensure effective communication among healthcare providers (ISMP, 2021). Stakeholder Coordination Effective coordination among stakeholders is essential to drive safety enhancements related to medication …show more content…
Healthcare administrators allocate resources, support quality improvement initiatives, and create a culture of safety within healthcare organizations (ANA, 2018). Patients and their families are active participants in their care, providing valuable information about their medications and preferences (ISMP, 2021). Conclusion Addressing medication errors in healthcare settings requires a multifaceted approach that involves identifying and addressing the underlying factors contributing to errors, implementing 4 evidence-based solutions, leveraging nursing coordination, and engaging stakeholders in collaborative efforts to enhance patient safety. By working together, healthcare providers can reduce medication errors, improve patient outcomes, and promote a culture of safety within healthcare organizations. 5 References American Nurses Association. (2018). The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Second medication errors. https://www.nursingworld.org/4a6d4d/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/nursing-excellence/medication-errors--2018--final.pdf Institute for Safe Medication
Show More

Related Documents: Addressing Medication Errors In Healthcare Settings

Essay on Healthcare Organizations

at least 19,000 healthcare programs, facilities and organizations in the US. Certification and accreditation awarded by JCAHO is acknowledged nationally as a mark of quality reflecting its commitment towards achieving certain quality and performance standards. JCAHO has the duty of enhancing healthcare for Americans through partnerships with other stakeholders and evaluation of healthcare organizations and encouraging them to embark on the provision of effective and safe healthcare of premier value…

Words 1194 - Pages 5

Differences In Ambulatory Care

care facilities require at least one overnight inpatient stay up to 30 days to be considered an acute care facility. The difference is also demonstrated by the physical building. The “delivery of health care is quickly changing” and ambulatory settings can be a part of an inpatient hospital or a physician office (Fortier, Fountain, Vargas, Heelan-Fancher, Perron, Hinic, & Swan, 2015, p. 167). Another difference is their admission process and record keeping. Ambulatory facilities do not have…

Words 577 - Pages 3

Research Flo Ni Essay

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AND IMPACT OF HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH The Legacy of Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory: Nursing Research Focusing on the Impact of Healthcare Environments Terri Zborowsky, PhD, EDAC ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to explore nursing research that is focused on the impact of healthcare environments and that has resonance with the aspects of Florence Nightingale’s environmental theory. BACKGROUND: Nurses have a unique ability to apply their…

Words 6249 - Pages 25

Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Nursing Interventions Essay

creating a patient population challenging nurses with Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) concerns for veterans with combat-related post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Best practice guidelines for PTSD are established for veteran centric use and addressing means for improving outcomes. Nurses are identified for assisting with the demands of this challenge to provide patient centered care. A recent effort within integrated health clinical services positioned nurses to perform an energy medicine modality…

Words 3164 - Pages 13

Essay about Leadership: Management and Role Transition Assignment

management position does not always portray a leadership persona, and visa versa. In this paper, the role of management and leadership will be explained, the difference between each style, and the principles of developing a strong team while in a healthcare setting. The myth about License Practical Nurses (LPN) only being able to obtain employment in Long Term Care facilities has been a black smear on this certain nursing title for years, but fortunately this statement is all but true. “LPN’s may acquire…

Words 2298 - Pages 10

Tragedy Into Policy: A Quantitative Study Of Nurses Attitudes Toward Patient Advocacy Activities

findings lead To new legal proTecTions n evada whisTleblowers . absTracT Background: In 2007 and 2008, 115 patients were found to be either cer­ tainly or presumptively infected with the hepatitis C virus through the reuse of contaminated medication vials at two southern Nevada endoscopy clinics. A subsequent joint investigation by federal and state agencies found multiple breaches of infection control protocols. There was also strong anecdotal evidence that among clinic staff, unsafe patient…

Words 8355 - Pages 34

Essay on Health Care and Literacy

Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of the Literature Darren A. DeWalt and Ashley Hink Pediatrics 2009;124;S265 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-1162B The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/Supplement_3/S265.full.html PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it has been published continuously…

Words 7436 - Pages 30

Essay on contaminated water

Q IWA Publishing 2008 Journal of Water and Health | 06.S1 | 2008 63 Communicating effectively with vulnerable populations during water contamination events Phyllis A. Nsiah-Kumi ABSTRACT Water contamination events are a public health concern worldwide with significant potential to impact the global community. When communicating with the public during these crisis situations, it is vital to consider the multiple audiences who receive the messages. Before developing or delivering messages…

Words 7685 - Pages 31

Essay on preschool

California Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 2 CALIFORNIA DEPAR TMENT OF EDUCATION • SACRAMENTO, 2010 California Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 2 Visual and Performing Arts Physical Development Health Publishing Information The California Preschool Learning Foundations (Volume 2) was developed by the Child Development Division, California Department of Education. This publication was edited by Faye Ong, working in cooperation with Laura Bridges and Desiree…

Words 46134 - Pages 185

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Essay

thousand and be stated as 52,000, while the population of a country might only be known to the nearest million and be stated as 52,000,000. The former might be in error by hundreds, and the latter might be in error by hundreds of thousands, but both have two significant figures (5 and 2). This reflects the fact that the significance of the error (its likely size relative to the size of the quantity being measured) is the same in both cases. Computer representations of floating point numbers typically…

Words 35677 - Pages 143