Summary
If used incorrectly, medicines pose a great threat to the health and life of the patient. Erroneous prescription of medicines, their use without taking into account concomitant diseases and features of interaction with other drugs can lead to complications and even fatal outcomes. Therefore, an important part of improving medication safety is compliance with the medicine administration.
Dealing With Medical Errors
Kavanagh, C. (2017). Medication governance: Preventing errors and promoting patient safety. British Journal of Nursing, 26(3), 63-68.
This article is devoted to the clinical errors associated with the use of medicines. It contains guidance on their prevention, including recommendations for the clear transmission of information about drug prescription. In addition, it warns nurses against incorrect dosing and dilution of the medication. This source can be helpful for nurses when performing such an item of the safety improvement plan as the prevention of adverse reactions. This resource can be accessed to avoid errors while administering medicines and ensure that the route of administration is timely and correct.
Lee, E. (2017). Reporting of medication administration errors by nurses in South Korean hospitals. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 29(5), 728-734.
This article examines cases where the safety improvement plan regarding medication safety has been violated. In particular, the authors focus on the most common type of medical error: incorrect dosage when prescribing medicines. In particular, this behavior of patients may be due to the lack of clear instructions for the use of the prescribed medication. This resource provides an algorithm for detecting errors during surgical interventions, and diagnostics when using equipment or laboratory research. The article is helpful for nurses as it contains possible ways to treat adverse and allergic drug reactions. A reminder about the insecurity of simultaneous use of incompatible drugs and dietary supplements is also provided.
Okuroglu, G. K., Orak, N. S., Mamedov, F., & Alpar, S. E. (2021). Development and validation of the safe parenteral medication administration self-efficacy scale. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 52(6), 267-273.
This article focuses on the nurse’s self-efficacy test, i.e., their confidence in the ability to successfully apply knowledge and skills in the process of professional activity. The study aimed to develop a methodology for a generalized assessment of the quality of nurses ‘ activities in compliance with the safety plan. It was based on such criteria as assessing the quality of medical appointments and the readiness to provide emergency care. This study will be helpful for nurses in terms of effective self-monitoring of compliance with medication safety. When referring to it, calculate the total assessment of the professional activity quality – high, moderate, or low – can be calculated. This way, employees can verify their knowledge of the safety plan or calculate existing gaps. Nurses can resort to research to take measures to improve the quality of work with medicines. According to the criteria developed by scientists, self-testing will push nurses to strengthen, coordinate, and analyze their activities. A nurse manager can also use the study to improve professional competencies and the organization of work of secondary medical personnel.
Medical Safety Management
Badowski, D. M., & Oosterhouse, K. J. (2017). Impact of a simulated clinical day with peer coaching and deliberate practice: Promoting a culture of safety. Nursing Education Perspectives, 38(2), 93-95.
The article presents a clinical scenario of the day with compliance with safety regulations. In this way, internal quality and safety control of medical activities in the hospital is organized. Previously, the safety improvement plan for outpatient clinics is explained to the medical staff. The article contains practical recommendations and a set of unified requirements for internal quality control and safety of medical activities. This resource is based on regulatory legal acts, considering international approaches to quality management and the safety improvement plan. Thus, the article helps demonstrate the practical application of these documents. Nurses can refer to this resource to ensure that the method of using medicines is effective, safe, and complies with the safety improvement plan. Referring to this document will help prevent unwanted drug reactions; from the long-term perspective, studying this article will help the nurse avoid problems associated with medicines.
Khalil, H., & Roughead, L. (2017). Medication safety programs in primary care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15(6), 1512-1517.
This article is devoted to the accounting of medicines and medical products in the medical unit. According to the safety improvement plan, the paper considers the accounting procedure for this specific group of non-financial assets. The basic requirements are prescribed when considering the use of medicines and other medical devices. This resource will be helpful for nurses as it provides a list of accounting objects for both fixed assets (medicines) and inventory used for medical purposes. The introduction of material values into the corresponding group of non-financial assets is within the institution’s competence according to the safety improvement plan. Nurses can use this resource when deciding on the accounting of fixed assets and inventory when utilizing them. In addition, they can refer to the list of medical devices whose expiration date period is less than 12 months presented in the article.
Lappalainen, M., Härkänen, M., & Kvist, T. (2020). The relationship between nurse manager’s transformational leadership style and medication safety. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 34(2), 357-369.
This article examines the role of a nurse manager in achieving medication safety by actively using their knowledge and abilities. There are also recommendations for demonstrating experience and skills to junior employees, colleagues, and assistants. The article guides the effective organization of employees, the correct setting of medication safety goals, and tracking of their achievement. The methods of effective interaction with subordinates, partners, and higher managers are given. This resource can be helpful both for a nurse manager and for junior employees. It can be referred to as clarifying questions for establishing communication when implementing the safety improvement plan.
Promoting Medical Safety in Patients
Bourdin, A., Schluep, M., Bugnon, O., & Berger, J. (2019). Promoting transitions of care, safety, and medication adherence for patients taking fingolimod in community pharmacies. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 76(15), 1150-1157.
This article recommends the safe use of the new immunomodulating tablet drug fingolimod. The developed methodological recommendations are based on the safety improvement plan. The critical role of the safe use of each emerging new drug in pathogenetic treatment is clarified. It depends on the disease’s activity, stage, and previous therapy results. The usefulness for nurses is to emphasize mandatory compliance with the risk management plan. The research highlights the inadmissibility of prescribing the drug outside of the indications and without meeting all the conditions for patient management. Studying this document, nurses fix the concepts of intolerance to medicinal components and contraindications to drug therapy. This document can be used not only in the treatment of fingolimod. It is worth referring to when analyzing the potential risk of cardiac complications after medical treatment. The article considers such factors as an increased risk of cardiovascular problems in patients with a history of cardiovascular or other diseases.
Demiris, G., Lin, S. Y., & Turner, A. M. (2019). The role of personal health information management in promoting patient safety in the home: A qualitative analysis. MEDINFO: Health and Wellbeing e-Networks for Al, 32(14), 1159-1163. doi:10.3233/SHTI190408
The article ensures that patients carefully follow medical recommendations for taking medicines from home. The methods of monitoring the implementation of the doctor’s prescriptions for taking medications are also described. Cases of changing the time of taking or skipping medication, reducing the prescribed dose, and early termination of treatment are considered. The safety improvement plan also includes ensuring medication safety when taking medicines at home. To ensure the therapeutic effect of many drugs, it is essential that the patient accurately follows the prescriptions, taking medications in the dosage indicated by the doctor. The article provides valuable information for a nurse on protecting a patient when taking pills at home. The nurse can refer to this resource if the patient refuses medical treatment. The source will help work with patients who prefer treatment with folk remedies, forget to take medicine on time, and finish treatment ahead of time.
Rogers, J. W., Fleming, M., Tipton, J., Ward, A., Garey, K. W., & Pitman, E. P. (2017). Investigating inpatient medication administration using the theory of planned behavior. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 74(24), 2065-2070.
The study touches on drug administration to the patient, which is a dependent nursing intervention. The authors consider the preparation of medicine prescribed by a doctor and its administration to a patient. At the same time, they note a correlation between the safe and accurate administration of drugs and the patient’s psychological readiness for the procedure. The benefit of this article for a nurse will be the ability to help the patient develop a habit of taking medications and following the attending physician’s recommendations. Thus, the patient activates the mechanism of mental adaptation to medical procedures and tolerance. By adhering to the daily routine according to the method given in the article, the nurse is more likely to develop the patient’s habit of observing medication safety. Nurses can use the material presented in the paper during the treatment of patients to establish mechanisms for their compliance with the doctor’s recommendations.
Competencies Necessary for Achieving Medication Safety
Lee, S. E., & Quinn, B. L. (2019). Incorporating medication administration safety in undergraduate nursing education: A literature review. Nurse Education Today, 72(6), 77-83.
The article lists the main competencies that a nurse should possess after completing a bachelor’s degree. Special attention is paid to compliance with the safety improvement plan and some skills to ensure medication safety. In particular, this includes the correct control of the storage of medicines. The article will be helpful for nurses as it touches on such an essential aspect of medication safety as the control of the storage of medications that require special conditions. Storage measures that every nurse should know and the description of unacceptable drugs for use like repackaged, unmarked medicines, or opened vials and ampoules are provided. The study of this article is essential for nurses as it can be used to ensure proper storage conditions for drugs. It can also be used when working with equipment designed to provide unique storage conditions. For example, the information can help when measuring indicators of storage conditions in premises with thermometers, psychrometers, hygrometers, etc.
Stalter, A. M., & Mota, A. (2017). Recommendations for promoting quality and safety in health care systems. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 48(7), 295-297.
The article is devoted to improving safety in various medical institutions and contains a part dedicated to medication safety. The topic of drug safety is one of the priority areas of modern healthcare medicine and this article. Its relevance is determined by the dynamic growth of the pharmaceutical industry. This process ensures the creation and promotion of a massive number of new medicines to the market when working with which it is necessary to comply with the safety plan. The article is helpful for nurses because it builds a clear relationship between patient safety and medication safety. This study indicates the ratio of benefits and risks from medicines and the associated need to follow the safety plan. To fully comply with medication safety, a nurse should know the conditions for storing medicines received in the departments. The article’s usefulness lies in the fact that it explains certain aspects of the operation of drugs, in which nurses most often make mistakes.
Wright, K., & Bonser, M. G. (2020). The essential steps of medication administration practices project medication administration improvement practices among acute inpatients in a tertiary hospital: A best practice implementation project. JBI Evidence Implementation, 18(4), 408-419.
This source considers the use of medicines in acute inpatient patients based on medication safety principles. The authors list and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of drug administration. The usefulness of this scientific work for a nurse is determined by the help in choosing the drug’s route of administration. That depends on their medical properties and the purpose of therapy. The passage of administration largely determines the rate of onset, duration, and strength of drugs, the spectrum, and severity of side effects. Therefore, the authors draw the nurse’s attention to compliance with medication safety. Medical staff can use this resource to self-check compliance with the safest treatment plan when implementing any of the ways of introducing drugs into the body.
References
Badowski, D. M., & Oosterhouse, K. J. (2017). Impact of a simulated clinical day with peer coaching and deliberate practice: Promoting a culture of safety. Nursing Education Perspectives, 38(2), 93-95.
Bourdin, A., Schluep, M., Bugnon, O., & Berger, J. (2019). Promoting transitions of care, safety, and medication adherence for patients taking fingolimod in community pharmacies. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 76(15), 1150-1157.
Demiris, G., Lin, S. Y., & Turner, A. M. (2019). The role of personal health information management in promoting patient safety in the home: A qualitative analysis. MEDINFO: Health and Wellbeing e-Networks for Al, 32(14), 1159-1163. doi:10.3233/SHTI190408
Kavanagh, C. (2017). Medication governance: Preventing errors and promoting patient safety. British Journal of Nursing, 26(3), 63-68.
Khalil, H., & Roughead, L. (2017). Medication safety programs in primary care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15(6), 1512-1517.
Lappalainen, M., Härkänen, M., & Kvist, T. (2020). The relationship between nurse manager’s transformational leadership style and medication safety. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 34(2), 357-369.
Lee, E. (2017). Reporting of medication administration errors by nurses in South Korean hospitals. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 29(5), 728-734.
Lee, S. E., & Quinn, B. L. (2019). Incorporating medication administration safety in undergraduate nursing education: A literature review. Nurse Education Today, 72(6), 77-83.
Okuroglu, G. K., Orak, N. S., Mamedov, F., & Alpar, S. E. (2021). Development and validation of the safe parenteral medication administration self-efficacy scale. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 52(6), 267-273.
Rogers, J. W., Fleming, M., Tipton, J., Ward, A., Garey, K. W., & Pitman, E. P. (2017). Investigating inpatient medication administration using the theory of planned behavior. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 74(24), 2065-2070.
Stalter, A. M., & Mota, A. (2017). Recommendations for promoting quality and safety in health care systems. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 48(7), 295-297.
Wright, K., & Bonser, M. G. (2020). The essential steps of medication administration practices project medication administration improvement practices among acute inpatients in a tertiary hospital: A best practice implementation project. JBI Evidence Implementation, 18(4), 408-419.