'Medication Errors: Causes and Problems Reporting Essay\r'

'In the early morning hours of a 12-hour night while shift, a exercise gives the tolerant of an ill-advised medicinal drug. The acetylsalicylic acid given was tell for the persevering in the next room. Medication demerits argon common in the hospital context of use and especi tot all toldyy by a reserve who is faint-hearted from works a 12-hour shift. In the situation described, should the nurse report the hallucination or assume that the incident is not worth insurance coverage since it was only aspirin? Surprisingly, according to Covell and Ritchie (2009) or so medical specialty defects argon simply overlooked. â€Å" confines estimate that only amid 25% and 63% of medical specialty errors ar actually report” (p. 287).\r\nThis estimation whitethorn seem low to some; however, another(prenominal) searchers estimate that the voluntary account of medicinal drug errors may be even lower. In 2009, Jones and Treiber found that less than 5% of medicinal drug errors argon reported. Medications be typically pastureed by physicians, merely it is ultimately the nurses’ office to assign the correct medicinal drug. There atomic subjugate 18 several steps in this lick and unfortunately when one step is altered, a medical specialty error rump decease.\r\nPreventing errors has been and continues to be an principal(prenominal) aspect of treat. I guess that in show to provide patients with the go around possible c atomic number 18 it is central for nurses to gain the common reported causes of medicinal drug errors, problems in report errors, and their fictional character in medicament embarrassion and reportage. Throughout this composition I exit discuss the practice of medicine error issues described above and their importance and adjoin on the treat profession. Topics discussed in this paper include the common causes of medicine errors, perceived problems with insurance coverage music errors, and the i mportance of medication errors to the profession of care for. Common Causes of Medication Errors\r\nNurse Correlated Causes\r\nEven though rub measures are allow inn, nurses are often hitherto the cause of medication errors. Medication boldness is a major intervention in nurse and when distracted or fatigued it is easy for open mistakes to occur that commonly would not endure happened. The five rights are taught to all nurses at some evidence in their schooling as the staple technique to help reduce the occurrent of medication errors; however, many another(prenominal) nurses live to consistently and accurately utilize these measures. accord to a study of 775 nurses conducted by Jones and Treiber (2010), 79% of participants intrustd that loser to respect the five rights of medication authorities causes the majority of medication errors.\r\nOther nurse-correlated causes set by Jones and Treiber (2010) include distractions and interruptions of the nurse, high pat ient nurse ratios, and lack of proper education along with fatigue and exhaustion. Types of factors that are straighta course related to nurses are dish outed inside causes of medication errors. However, literature shows that a combination of internal and remote variables within the care for milieu tin to medication errors. Unfortunately, actions by nurses and failures to follow common nursing protocols instanter countersink the responsibility of medication errors on the nursing profession. Other Associated Causes\r\nIt is also all-important(a) to consider causes of errors other than the common internal causes directly correlated to nurses. A common external cause of medication errors is miscommunication. Miscommunication can occur in several antithetic ways, but it often involves miscommunication from the initial prescription by physicians. Brady, Malone, and Fleming (2009) found that, â€Å"ineffective written and vocal communication in relation to prescriptions contr ibute to medication errors, particularly between nurses and physicians” (p. 692). preferably often, handwriting is not legible when prescriptions are written which ends in medication errors.\r\nSince many drugs look and sound alike(p), it is easy for nurses to throw together handwriting. An ex angstromle involves the medications, Vioxx, Ziox, and Zyvox. These medications sound very similar; however, they are used for very different treatments. Confusion by the nurse in writing a verbal holy order or in reading the order related to one of these three medications could result in immense consequences. In a survey of 983 registered nurses, Brady et al. (2009) likewise concluded that unworthy handwriting ranks among the top three causes of medication errors.\r\nIn addition, in that respect are many other factors that have been shown to contribute to medication errors including incomplete patient information, use of abbreviations, unavailable drug information, lack of appropr iate advancement and labeling of meds, and environmental factors such as knotty lighting. Understanding the cause of medication errors is an important step to decrease the occurrent and prevent emerging errors from occurring. Unfortunately, coverage of errors is stable a outsized problem among the nursing profession. comprehend Problems with Reporting\r\nBarriers to Reporting\r\nMost nurses would take hold that medication errors should be reported when they occur, in so far medication errors are still underreported. A survey conducted by Jones and Treiber (2010) found that among nurses, â€Å"94% either strongly agreed or agreed that medication errors should be reported even when no harm resulted to the patient (p. 243).” Based on these findings, it is obvious that thither is some inconsistency between actual occurrence and report. These findings also suggest that there may be barriers to reportage. Barriers to reporting can be broken down into tetrad major grou ps according to research from some(prenominal) Koohestani and Baghcheghi (2009) and Covell and Ritchie (2009). The major groups are inadequate definition, tending, reporting movement, and administrative process.\r\nSurveys conducted by Covell and Ritchie (2009), determined that dread ranked as the highest barrier to reporting since â€Å"participants indicated that they were most upkeepful of adverse consequences from reporting medication errors” (p. 289). Findings by Koohestani and Baghcheghi’s (2009) regarding barriers to reporting by nursing students also exhibit fear as the strongest perceived barrier. Their research indicated that among nursing students the fear of, â€Å"decreasing evaluation score and introducing educational problems” along with â€Å" instructor’s reprimand” ranked as the highest barriers (p. 70). Surprisingly, both studies ranked the process of reporting, clipping to fill out proper forms and time to contact physic ian, as having the least force on reporting. Increased Reporting\r\nThe large number of medication errors and the lack of reporting suggest a need for heighten among the nursing profession. According to research findings from a study conducted by Drach-Zachavy & amp; pudding (2010), â€Å"Approximately every third patient, on average, is exposed to some sort of departure from the regulations when receiving medication. Yet, when nurses were confronted with these findings, they tended to dismiss their gravity and argued that they were trivial in the hospital context” (p.801). One way to emend the problem of medication errors is to melt attention to the issue.\r\nThis can be make by annexd reporting of errors among the nursing profession. However, due to the barriers of reporting described by nurses, establishing a concrete trunk to purify reporting has been difficult. Most nurses are conscious(predicate) that underreporting of medication errors does occur; however, th ey still fail to report. Education about proper reporting and awareness of the issue has been shown to increase reporting among nurses. Research shows that the major barrier to reporting medication errors is fear; therefore, reducing fear is a major component to increase reporting. Strategies to reduce fear include procedures to, â€Å" jibe that the processes used for reporting medication errors are respectful” (Covell & Ritchie, 2009, p. 295). It is also important for administrators and nursing managers to create a working environment conducive to reporting, one that encourages and supports reporting of errors (Koohestani & Baghcheghi, 2009, p. 73).\r\nAnother strategy to better reporting deals with the process of reporting. Although the process of reporting was considered the lowest barrier to reporting, research still suggests that improving this process can go across to better reporting of outcomes. Brady et al. (2009) suggest that electronic reporting systems i mprove reporting. This type of system improves the reporting process by devising it easier. There is significantly less paperwork required, and the fear associated with reporting is significantly reduced. In order to change the lack of reporting of medication errors, the perceived problems with reporting need to be improved. The beginning step in this usefulness starts within the nursing profession. Recognizing that nurses play an ready role in preventing and reporting medication errors will help to decrease the number of errors. However, the distinct role of nurses in reporting medications errors needs further discussion. Importance to the treat Profession\r\nRole of Nurses\r\nThe major role of nurses in the process of medication errors is first and foremost prevention. To help prevent errors, nurses mustiness first earn why medication errors occur and make an effort to go past the source. They must also strive to actively follow implemented guidelines and procedures. For ex ample, consistently practicing the five of rights of medication administration has been shown to decrease the occurrence of errors. According to Brady et al. (2009) the major role of nurses is to, â€Å"take appropriate steps to develop and maintain competence in relation to all aspects of medication management” (p. 694).\r\nEducation plays a key role in maintaining nursing competence; therefore, it is imperative to remain up to date with current knowledge, evidence base practice, and skills. Once a medication error occurs, the most important role of the nurse is to report. Brady et al. (2009) concludes that, â€Å"reporting medication errors is pivotal in improving the medication management process” (p. 694). Reporting is critical for nurses because it is a court-ordered and ethical concern in the nursing profession. Nurses must consistently report all errors and also encourage other wellness care professionals to report as well. Overall, the most important roles am ong nursing professionals are to administer medications safely and accurately, report errors consistently, and adhere to the American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics.\r\nConcluding integration\r\nReconsider the medication error discussed at the beginning of this paper. As the nurse in the situation, I might not have initially reported the medication error. I might have only apprised the charge nurse of my mistake. After researching this topic, my views on medication errors and reporting have changed. I now have a greater understanding of the impact that an active nursing role can have in reducing medication errors. I believe that the implications of medication errors are important because medication administration is a key nursing role. Throughout my nursing career I will administer medications to thousands of patients. Unfortunately, I will likely be the cause of at least one medication error.\r\nAccording to the literature, medication errors do occur. Therefore, it is i mportant to recognize causes so that steps can be made toward preventing medication errors. I believe that measures such as proper upbringing and additional education are the outgo methods to preventing medication errors. It is also very important for nurses to actively practice safe medication administration by taking a â€Å"back to basics” approach and utilizing simple techniques such as the five rights. Furthermore, I believe that the best(p) way to improve reporting is to reduce the fear meet reporting. One way to do this would be to initiate online reporting systems. In my future nursing practice, it will ultimately be my responsibility to administer the correct medication to patients. In order to provide patients with the best outcomes, it is important for nurses to understand the implications of medication errors.\r\nReferences\r\nBradley, A. M., Malone, A. M., & Fleming, S. (2009). A literature review of the item-by-item and system factors that contribute to medication errors in nursing practice. ledger of Nursing Management, 17, 679-697. inside: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2009.00995.x Covell, C. L., & Ritchie, J. A. (2009). Nurses’ responses to medication errors: Suggestions for the development of organisational strategies to improve reporting. Journal of Nursing business Quality, 24, 287-297. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0b013e3181a4d506 Drach-Zahavy, A., & Pud, D. (2010). Learning mechanisms to bounce medication administration errors. Journal of mod Nursing, 66, 794-805. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-26482010.05294.x Jones, J. H., & Treiber, L. (2010). When the 5 rights go wrong: Medication errors from the\r\nnursing perspective. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 25, 240-247. doi:\r\n10.1097/NCQ.0b013e3181d5b948\r\nKoohestani, H. R., & Baghcheshi, N. (2009). Barriers to the reporting of medication\r\nadministration errors among nursing students. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing,\r\n24 (1), pp. 66-74. Retrieved from http://search. proquest.com\r\nView as multi-pages\r\n'