Medication Errors: A PICOT Model

Medication Errors: A PICOT Model
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Elizabeth Fuhs

November 18th, 2017

Medication Errors: A PICOT Model The purpose of this literature review is to obtain insight to the effectiveness of nurses having a readily accessible “badge buddy” card to prevent insulin medication errors among diabetic patients. Insulin is a common high alert medication that is administered by health care workers. “Errors relating to insulin arise because it has a narrow therapeutic range and requires precise dose adjustments with careful administration and monitoring. Staff may not be familiar with the safe use of different devices or the complex range of products available. This is further compounded by the findings of studies …show more content…
Adverse effects of insulin errors could be so detrimental to the patient’s health that it could lead to death. With thus being said, it is crucial for health care providers to be double checking before they prescribe, or inject any insulin to a patient. There are written protocols for insulin dosing, routes, and administration times at any hospital. In conjunction with these protocols, health care providers should have an accessible card to refer to for any insulin related questions. Diabetes mellitus is prevalent among adults throughout the world. The World Health Organization (2015) states that globally, 422 million adults over the age of 18 were living with diabetes in 2014. The number of adults with diabetes is increasing significantly. Factors that increase the risk of developing this disease include; obesity and physical inactivity. Diabetes care imposes an economic burden on global health care systems through direct medical costs, and out of pocket payments for supplies for patients (WHO, 2015). Patients with Type 1 diabetes require insulin to survive because their body attacks its own cells. Type 2 diabetes develop insulin resistance and the pancreas decreases insulin production. Both Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus require insulin for proper glucose control. When hospitalized, it is the role …show more content…
(2017). Medication Errors Related to Drugs. [online] Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/medicationerrors/ [Accessed 20 Nov. 2017].
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Hamilton, P., Nation, M., Penfold, S., Kerr, D., & Richardson, T. (2013). Reducing insulin prescription errors in hospital: more stick than carrot? Practical Diabetes, 30(9), 370-373. doi:10.1002/pdi.1813
Lee, M. K., Liu, Z., Quek, T. P., & Chew, D. E. (2013, August 01). Insulin-Related Knowledge
Among Health Care Professionals at a Tertiary Hospital. Retrieved November 20, 2017, from http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/3/187
Meetoo, D. (2012). Diabetes dilemma: errors and alerts in insulin therapy. British Journal Of Nursing, 21(13), 770.
Sharpe, L. (2012). Improving safety of insulin administration: A pilot audit of hospital staff knowledge . Retrieved from http://www.thejournalofdiabetesnursing.co.uk/media/content/_master/1718/files/pdf/jdn16-1-8-16.pdf
World Health Organization. (2016). Global report on diabetes. Retrieved

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