ISSUE 01 // NOVEMBER 2022// Q4
THE OFFICIAL NURSING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER
Medication Strategies: Protect your patient and your license
The seatbelt alarm can be annoying. There is no voice like "Alexa" that re- peats, "Seat Belt, please." It serves as a gentle reminder that safety is para- mount because the seat belt protects us against adverse events. I realized how important it is to protect our patients, our licenses, and our emotional wellbeing. Despite the best efforts to prevent medication errors, many systems can fail. This was the case in a recent ISPM article when a pharmacist made a mistake and scheduled an antibiotic to be given starting next year. Despite the fact that the omission did not contribute to the patient's condition, the article leaves us wondering about how efficient the systems designed to assist us are.
It is essential to develop habits that make administering medications sec- ond nature. It should be routine and habitual to double - check medications.
The administration of medications requires basic knowledge, skills, and the incorporation of medication administra- tion rights. There are many interruptions, distractions, and challenges nurses face every day. It is very important for us to develop safe behaviors that will lead to best practices for the safety of our patients and our mental health. It is important to remember that the medication order and the EHR medication scanning system contain the five rights of medication administration: the right patient, the right medication, the correct dose, the right route, and the right time. This list of five rights should be reviewed before administering drugs, as medication errors have the po- tential to cause fatal injuries. The ISMP calls these "Independent Double Checks" In the June 2019 newsletter, and the ISMP recommends these play an essential part in medication safety. An independent double - check is conducted by a pharmacist and a regis- tered nurse to ensure the medication was prescribed, administered, routed, and timed correctly. The five rights emphasize the importance of the right reason and proper education. These and other techniques have always helped me in my years of practice, though they are not specifically mentioned. First, we must familiarize our- selves with the medications specific to the unit in our current specialty. Critical thinking skills are needed to deter- mine the right reason for medication administration, including knowledge of the reason/indications, dose, and side effects that are relevant to the patient's current diagnosis and complaint. Patient education is an important compo- nent of proper education. Additionally, patients must understand why they are receiving medication as well as the risks associated with it. Edu- cating the patient is our best line of defense in providing safe care. Behaviors involving incorporating the rights of Medication Administration and double - checking are safe behaviors. Safe Behaviors are our best defense to protect our patients, our licenses, and our mental health. The extra time we spend performing these practices will never equal the time, energy, and thinking that comes after a catastrophic/fatal medication error. Just like that annoying alarm that comes on when we drive without the seat belt, that same alarm should come on during medication admin- istration when we do not follow those double checks that are safe behaviors. These are especially important when administering medications that cause the most significant harm to the patient. We must keep in mind that a single medication error could be catastrophic.
Denise Newman BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA Staff Nurse –Recovery Room
NURSES COMMUNICATING BEST PRACTICES
NURSING EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVLEOPMENT COUNCIL
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