1. Medication Errors & Risk Reduction Ch. 7
Professor Joson MSN CNS

2. What is a Med Error?

4. Factors Contributing to Med Errors
Health care provider
Omitting one of the five rights of drug admin
Failing to perform an agency check
Failing to account patient variables
Giving meds based on verbal orders or phone orders
Giving meds based on incomplete order or illegible order
Practicing under stressful work conditions

5. Factors Contributing to Med Errors
patient
Taking Meds from multiple providers
Polypharmacy
Not filling or refilling their Rx
Taking medications in incorrect doses
Taking meds from previous illness or prescribed for another person

6. What’s the impact of Med Errors?
Common cause of morbidity and preventable death in hospitals
Emotionally devastating to nurse and client
Increased cost to patient and facility, as it may extend client’s stay
Poor reputation for unit or facility, caused by high incidence of errors
Penalizing of administrative staff or the hospital as a whole because of errors

7. Strategies for Reducing Med ErrorsP= I= E=
Nurses’ should never administer a medication unless familiar with uses and side effects
PDA (Personal Digital Assistants)
Electronic/Internet access for drug formulary
Call pharmacist
Medication Reconciliation
What does this prevent?

8. Effective Patient Teaching
Written, age-appropriate handouts, correct language
Audiovisual teaching aids
Contact information
Know names of all medications
Know what side effects may occur
Use appropriate administration devices
Read label prior to each drug administration
Carry list of all medications, including OTC and herbals
Ask questions