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Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit.
- Source :
-
The American journal of nursing [Am J Nurs] 2014 Nov; Vol. 114 (11), pp. 53-62. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- While preparing medications in complex health care environments, nurses are frequently distracted or interrupted, which can lead to medication errors that may adversely affect patient outcomes. This pilot quality improvement project, which took place in a 32-bed surgical progressive care unit in an academic medical center, implemented five medication safety interventions designed to decrease distractions and interruptions during medication preparation: nursing staff education, use of a medication safety vest, delineation of a no-interruption zone, signage, and a card instructing nurses how to respond to interruptions. Four types of distractions and interruptions decreased significantly between the two-month preimplementation and two-month postimplementation periods: those caused by a physician, NP, or physician assistant; those caused by other personnel; phone calls and pages placed or received by the nurse during medication administration; and conversation unrelated to medication administration that involved the nurse or loud nearby conversation that distracted the nurse. The total number of reported adverse drug events also decreased from 10 to four, or by 60%. Thus, medication safety interventions may help decrease distractions and interruptions in high-acuity settings.
- Subjects :
- Academic Medical Centers
Humans
Inservice Training
Medication Errors nursing
Pilot Projects
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Quality Improvement
United States
Evidence-Based Nursing
Medication Errors prevention & control
Nursing Staff, Hospital organization & administration
Safety Management organization & administration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1538-7488
- Volume :
- 114
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of nursing
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25353136
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000456433.07343.7f