NURS FPX4020 Assessment 4 Best Practices for Medication Administration to Reduce Patient Safety Risks

Jung, S. Y., Hwang, H., Lee, K., Lee, H.-Y., Kim, E., Kim, M., & Cho, I. Y. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to implementation of medication decision support systems in electronic medical records: Mixed methods approach based on structural equation modeling and qualitative analysis. JMIR Medical Informatics , 8(7) . https://doi.org/10.2196/18758

The Medication Decision Support System (MDSS) is effective in increasing the effectiveness of the medication administration protocols at healthcare institutions if its implementation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) is sustainable and accurate. The use of MDSS was evaluated through EHR at healthcare institutions, resulting in different limitations hindering the positive results for patient safety. The research proposed that the nurse training for using EHR and MDSS was essential for reducing the medication errors and adverse events resulting from these medication errors. The resource encourages nurses to participate in safety improvement initiatives and pieces of training to increase their skill levels to operate EHR in all of its evolved forms. Nurses at MGH can use the resource by effectively learning the new EHR implemented to support the medication administration protocols at the institution. Nurses should also report the EHR application at MGH using this resource if the interface is complex and incomprehensible.

Nanji, K. C., Garabedian, P. M., Shaikh, S. D., Langlieb, M. E., Boxwala, A., Gordon, W. J., & Bates, D. W. (2021). Development of a perioperative medication-related clinical decision support tool to prevent medication errors: An analysis of user feedback. Applied Clinical Informatics , 12(5) , 984–995. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1736339

Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) were provided as an evidence-based measure for preventing medication errors at healthcare institutions. The resource analyzed that implementing CDSS can eliminate prescription errors or lack of competencies in medication administration processes. The research proposed that technical involvement in medication administration ensured patient safety, which eliminates the chances of human error through alerts. The research also proposed that EHR was an effective system for reducing medication errors resulting from dosage-related errors. Nurses can increase patient safety by using EHR or CDSS with the appropriate level of training. Nurses at MGH can use the resource to review possible errors resulting in the functioning of EHR or CDSS at the institution and avoid them to reduce medication errors and increase patient safety.

Koyama, A. K., Maddox, C.-S. S., Li, L., Bucknall, T., & Westbrook, J. I. (2019). Effectiveness of double checking to reduce medication administration errors: A systematic review. BMJ Quality & Safety , 29(7) , 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009552

The resource identified that double-checking the patient medication information before administering it can significantly reduce the chances of error in medication administration. The results indicated that extra care in reading prescriptions and administering medication could save nurses from the burden of medication errors and increase the effectiveness of patient safety at healthcare institutions. Double-checking is evidence-based quality intervention according to the resource that can significantly reduce medication errors at any healthcare institution. Nurses can understand the importance of medication administration and the associated protocol standards in reducing medication administration errors. Nurses at MGH can review the information provided by the medication administrator and prescribers before medicating patients to reduce the chances of medication errors.

Han, Y., Kim, J.-S., & Seo, Y. (2019). Cross-sectional study on patient safety culture, patient safety competency, and adverse events. Western Journal of Nursing Research , 42(1) , 32–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945919838990

The research analyzed nurses’ perceptions and the internal structure and culture of the healthcare institutions to find factors that contributed to medication errors. The results indicated that the culture of safety and nurses’ positive perception of patient safety effectively reduced medication errors. The research also proposed that regular activities like in-service sessions and pieces of training were important in developing a culture of safety that positively influence patient safety at healthcare institutions. Nurses can increase their understanding of the safety culture and its importance in ensuring patient safety by using the information provided by this resource. The increase in the nurses’ understanding of the culture of safety also reduces the medication errors resu