Medication Errors

Medication Errors There are approximately 80,000 medication errors per year that involve nurses giving medications to patients. There are numerous measures in place now to cut down on errors, but it does still happen on occasion.

Human error is impossible to completely prevent.

Medication Mistakes 80,000 sounds like a lot of medication errors, but consider how many nurses give out multiple medications every day, over a 24 hour period. In comparison, when medication errors started to be seriously documented and tracked in the early 60s, it is estimated that out of every 7 doses of medication administered, there was one error. Obviously the means of preventing errors have worked to drastically cut down on the mistakes.

Related: What does a nursing student look like? - International Nurses Association Prescribed Medications and Medical Staff Prescription medication is a big industry and growing daily. One third of adults in the United States take five or more medications that are prescribed. This number indicates what a huge industry the pharmaceutical companies are. Many of the medications now available are saving lives and making people more comfortable, however, with the increase in prescriptions, comes the chance of more medication errors. An adverse drug event, ADE is when a patient received the wrong medication, and harm comes to the patient because of the error. Most medication errors occur outside of a hospital and happen with patients taking their medicines at home. There are approximately 720,000 emergency room visits yearly due to ADE’s. Out of that, approximately 125,000 end up being admitted to the hospital.

As a nurse, you have very little control over what the patient does when they leave your presence. You assume they will take their medications as prescribed, however you never know if that will be, the case. The only course of action available to you is to explain very carefully to the patient, exactly how they should take the prescribed medication. Engage the patient when explaining, ask if they understand, or have questions. Allow them to express concerns, ask any questions they may have, or just allow for comments on the prescription they have just received.

When Errors Occur From the moment a prescriber initiates the prescription, there are multiple steps prior to the intended patient actually taking the medication. The pharmacy technician enters the information, and then the pharmacist selects the appropriate bottle, and enters the dosage. The Technician often counts out the number of pills and places them in the bottle, and into a bag. Many times, yet another person handle the bag to ring up the purchase. By the time the patient finally gets the medication home, it has been through numerous steps, and 95% of the time it is delivered exactly as prescribed.

Now, it's in the hands of the patient, which is where most medication errors occur. Older patients, particularly often misread instructions or don't interpret them correctly. This is when the extensive coverage of the instructions in the medical clinic may be beneficial to the patient, they may just remember, your instructions, and avoid making a mistake.

Outcomes of Medication Errors Illness, vomiting, diarrhea, flu like symptoms, coma, seizures, and even death can be a result of a medication error. Some drugs such as heparin are based on the exact weight of the patient. If a patient loses or gains weight, suddenly the dosage is off, and it can cause severe consequences. Always remind patients when they are prescribed a weight based medication, that it is vital, that they weigh daily and report any weight loss or gain prior to taking their dosage of medication.

Related: CNA - What They Do? Some patients use different pharmacies, which also can be dangerous.

Using one pharmacy is a safeguard against taking two medications that may not go well together. Always recommend to patients that they utilize just one pharmacy, it is for their safety and protection.

Medication Safeguards • Make sure you have covered all instructions of prescribed medication prior to the patient leaving. Encourage any questions or concerns they may have, and provide any pertinent literature.

• Suggest the patient use only one pharmacy for all medications.

• Suggest a medication aid, a pill dispenser box can help organize medications and serve as a reminder to take the medicine..

• Warn the patient of any and all dangerous side effects, they may not read all information that comes with their medication.

Safeguards have certainly cut down on medication errors, however they do still happen on occasion. Regardless of the innovative measures put in place to guard against mistakes, at some point humans handle those prescriptions, and as humans, we all make mistakes. In the event you ever create a medication error, or are aware of a medication error, it's important to advise the appropriate person, or emergency department, so they can evaluate the patient for a medical emergency.

Group homes, nursing care centers, assisted living centers, rehab facilities are all at risk when it comes to giving out medication. They have multiple patients to administer medications to, and often patients are upset and waiting for the medication, or refusing to take their prescribed medications.

Alzheimer's patients can be especially challenging, and it takes a lot of patience and understanding to convenience them the medicine is for their own well being. Always ask for help from a coworker if needed, nursing is very much a team player job. By talking your patient through the process of administering the medication, it may help them to feel less vulnerable accepting the pill. Talk through each step, explaining what the medication will do to benefit the patient. The hope is the patient will pay close attention, and understand your instructions are to benefit them.

Everyone involved in patient care actually does a very good job to ensure medication errors are kept to a minimum, and the reality is that it's working.

As much medication as there is administered in one year, mistakes are actually at a pretty low ratio. The main priority is making sure the patient understands the importance of taking the right medication, the right dosage, and at the right time. That in it will cut down on numerous medication errors.

Related: Skilled Nursing Assistant and Future Nurse in Maine, Sierra M. Savage, CNA, is to Be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter