Full Answer Section

• National Patient Safety Standards:
  • The Joint Commission Standards: These standards emphasize the importance of safe medication practices, including proper medication reconciliation, accurate medication administration, and the use of safety checks.
  • National Patient Safety Goals: The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals specifically address the need to improve the accuracy of patient identification and medication administration.

A – Assessment:

• Impact on Patients:
  • Medication errors can have serious consequences for patients, including adverse drug reactions, prolonged hospital stays, and even death. ¹  
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• Impact on Staff:
  • Frequent medication errors can lead to increased stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction among nurses.
• Impact on the Organization:
  • Medication errors can result in increased costs due to prolonged hospital stays, legal liabilities, and reputational damage.
• Value for Patients and the Healthcare Setting:
  • Implementing effective medication safety measures enhances patient safety, improves patient outcomes, reduces costs, and strengthens the organization’s reputation for quality care.

R – Recommendation:

• Recommendation: Implement a bedside medication verification process using a combination of barcode scanning technology and independent double checks.
  • Alignment with High-Reliability Principles: This recommendation aligns with the principles of high-reliability organizations by emphasizing standardization, redundancy, and a strong safety culture.
• Potential Barriers:
  • Resistance to change: Nurses may resist the implementation of new procedures and technologies.
  • Cost of technology: Implementing barcode scanning technology and integrating it with the electronic health record (EHR) can be costly.
• Interventions to Minimize Barriers:
  • Engage staff in the change process: Involve nurses in the planning and implementation of the new medication administration process to address their concerns and gain their buy-in.
  • Provide comprehensive training and ongoing support: Conduct thorough training sessions on the use of barcode scanning technology and the new medication administration procedures.
  • Pilot test the new system: Conduct a pilot test on a smaller scale to identify and address any potential issues before full implementation.
• Shared Decision-Making:
  • Involve all relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process, including nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and hospital administrators. This will ensure that all perspectives are considered and that the chosen solution is feasible and sustainable.
• Outcome Measure:
  • Track the number and types of medication errors before and after the implementation of the new medication administration process.
  • Monitor patient outcomes, such as length of stay and readmission rates.
  • Conduct surveys to assess staff satisfaction and perceptions of medication safety.
• Care Delivery Model:
  • The current care delivery model likely involves a traditional nurse-patient assignment model.
  • Consider implementing a team-based approach to patient care, which can improve communication and coordination among healthcare providers.