SUMMARY:

The study focuses on the different factors which contribute to the medication,

documentation, and other types of nursing errors in two Pacific Northwest cities of the

United States through a cross-sectional survey of the nursing staffs focusing nursing unit

design, medication room, perceived errors and adverse events, and demographic

information. It was conveyed in the study that there were various environmental factors,

namely inadequate space in charting and documentation area, lengthy walking distances

to patient rooms, insufficient patient surveillance opportunity/lack of visibility to all parts

of the nursing unit, small size of the medication room, inappropriate organization of

medical supplies, high noise levels in nursing unit, poor lighting, and lack of privacy in the

nursing stations, which greatly resulted to instances of medications errors. The study also

noted non-environmental variables, but environmental factors are still identified as the

most common cause. It is recommended that healthcare settings are to implement certain

modifications in their physical environment and to formulate a plan and design process

that would draw attention of the design professionals to the link between physical

environment and errors.

REACTION:

Even though when we are still student nurses, we are already trained to be

accurate and cautious as possible when administering medications to our patients. We

also need to be learned enough to whatever drugs we are going to give to our patients,

like their actions, adverse effects, contraindications, and nursing considerations. We,

nurses, are responsible for preparing and administering medicines to our clients, and as

we give these drugs to them, we are expected to assure that the ten patient rights are

observed, especially in guaranteeing that the medicines are given in the correct dose, in

good qualities, given in the route, and that the clients are well-informed on the drugs they

have been taking. It is the main reason why we are studying pharmacology in order to be

well-versed in every actions we take, specifically in administering drugs. In preparing the

medicines, it was emphasized during our first year that it is important to read and compare

the label on the drug with the order at least three times: when removing from the medicine

cabinet, before pouring or placing the medicine in the container, and when returning

medicine to the cabinet. These are all done to ensure that errors are not made, especially

that any mistaken drug can lead the patient’s health will be put in jeopardy.

The study has revealed that there are several environmental factors, as well as

non-environmental variables like poor training of health professionals, overwork and

stress of health professionals, high nurse to patient ratio, health professionals not working

together as a team, and poor handwriting by health professionals, that are potentially

problematic in nursing station areas and are considered as leading to medication,

documentation, and other types of nursing errors. Amidst these limitations, these do not

excuse us from decreasing our competence in our profession, considering that we are

dealing with lives. In the nursing key areas of responsibility, we are expected to deliver

safe and quality nursing care. Under this is conforming to the standards of medication

administration and health therapeutics. Our training even at the first year of nursing just

shows how critical this responsibility is, since, every intervention we implement is liable

to us and is playing a vital role in the recuperation of our patients. These distracting factors

are no excuse. I guess the busyness in nursing is already entailed in the profession, thus,

in order to practice competence and safety, amid the shortcomings in the healthcare

facility, we are expected in the management of resources and environment, like

organizing work load to facilitate client care and establishing mechanism to ensure proper

functioning of all resources. Indeed, words are not enough to express how important to

provide a safe and accurate medication and the practice of errorless medication

administration is never isolated in the concepts and theories. It is imperative to note that

effective learning regarding this matter is best reflected on the actions of the nurse in

practice.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Mahmood, A., Chaudhury H., & Valente, M. (2011). Nurses' perceptions of how physical

environment affects medication errors in acute care settings. Elsevier Inc.

Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08971897.

Journal Reading Describing

the Role of Professional Registered

Nurses in Drug Administration

Submitted by:

Philip Gabriel G. Gimotea

Nursing 30 - NB

Submitted to:

Mrs. Florence H. Baluran, RN, MN

November 27, 2015