What action should the nurse take when a newly written drug prescription is illegible
By Michelle Colleran Cook Show Below, is testimony provided by MNA Member Michelle Colleran Cook on behalf of the MNA Congress on Nursing Practice at a hearing before the Joint Committee on Health Care, which concerned the issue of prevention of medication errors in health care settings. My name is Michelle Colleran Cook. I am employed per diem in the Recovery Room of a Boston teaching hospital. I am also an instructor in a LPN School of Nursing and will graduate from Regis College with a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration in May 1999. Recently, there have been national and local incidences of nurse errors in medication administration that have resulted in negative patient outcomes. Nurses, because they administer the drugs directly to patients, are the last links in the safe medication administration chain. Complicating matters is the increased acuity of the patients they serve, and the decrease in the resources available to nurses to ensure safe practice. Because of the climate of health care today, nurses need to become cognizant of their practice’s vulnerability and vigilant about protecting their practice. All nurses have been taught the five rights of medication administration. They were drilled into our conscious in nursing school until they became part of our unconscious behavior as practicing nurses. The right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route and the right time form the foundation from which nurses practice safely when administrating medications to our patients in all health care settings. Just as nurses know the five rights of medication administration, they should also know what rights they have when administering medications. These "Six Rights for Nurses Administering Medications" will hopefully guide nurses as they continue to care for patients despite these turbulent times.
What actions should a nurse take following a medication error?Taking ownership of the error and doing the right thing by putting the patient first is the only realistic course of action. Take immediate corrective measures. Inform the patient's doctor of the mistake so that action can be taken as soon as possible to counteract the effects of the incorrect medication.
What action should be taken when a medication error occurs?someone else has made a medication error, you must IMMEDIATELY REPORT THE ERROR TO THE RN CM/DN AND APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENT THE ERROR. According to your agency's policy, your supervisor should also be notified.
What are the nursing responsibilities when administering this drug?Nurses' responsibility for medication administration includes ensuring that the right medication is properly drawn up in the correct dose, and administered at the right time through the right route to the right patient. To limit or reduce the risk of administration errors, many hospitals employ a single-dose system.
How can nurses prevent medication administration errors?5 Tips for Preventing Medication Errors in Nursing. Ensure the five rights of medication administration are adhered to. ... . Pay close attention to drug packaging, labeling and nomenclature. ... . Double check — or even triple-check — individual patient procedures. ... . Put a zero in front of the decimal point. ... . Document everything.. |