Safe Practices for Medication Administration

Full Answer Section

     

• Complex medical history: The patient has a complex medical history, including heart failure and diabetes. This increases the risk of a medication error, as the nurse must carefully consider all of the patient's medications and medical conditions before administering any new medication.
• High-alert medication: Vancomycin is a high-alert medication, meaning that it has a high potential to cause serious harm if administered incorrectly. High-alert medications are more likely to be involved in medication errors.
• Busy shift: The nurse is working a busy shift and may be feeling rushed. This can increase the risk of a medication error, as the nurse may not have enough time to carefully check all of the necessary information before administering medication.

The nurse's roles in this situation:

• Obtain a complete medication history: The nurse should obtain a complete medication history from the patient, including all over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and dietary supplements. This information is essential for preventing medication errors.
• Check the medication order: The nurse should carefully check the medication order for accuracy. This includes checking the patient's name, date of birth, medication name, dose, route, frequency, and duration.
• Identify the correct patient: The nurse should use two patient identifiers, such as the patient's name and date of birth, to identify the correct patient before administering medication.
• Prepare and administer the medication correctly: The nurse should follow the medication label and package insert carefully when preparing and administering medication. This includes checking the expiration date and using the correct syringe and needle size.
• Monitor the patient for adverse reactions: The nurse should monitor the patient for adverse reactions after administering medication. This is especially important for high-alert medications, such as vancomycin.

Strategies the nurse should take to avoid medication error:

• Take your time: It is important to take your time when administering medication. This will help to ensure that you are able to carefully check all of the necessary information and avoid making a mistake.
• Ask for help: If you are unsure about anything, ask for help from a more experienced nurse or pharmacist. It is better to ask for help than to risk making a medication error.
• Double-check your work: It is a good idea to double-check your work with another nurse before administering medication. This can help to catch any potential errors.

Conclusion: Medication errors are a serious problem in healthcare. However, there are a number of things that nurses can do to avoid medication errors. By being careful, taking their time, and asking for help when needed, nurses can help to ensure the safety of their patients.  

Sample Solution

     

Scenario:

A 65-year-old male patient is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. He has a history of heart failure and diabetes. He is prescribed a new medication, vancomycin, to treat his infection. Vancomycin is a powerful antibiotic that can cause serious side effects if not administered correctly.

Factors that could have contributed to a medication error:

• New medication: The patient is prescribed a new medication, vancomycin, which he has never taken before.