Medication administration is an essential nursing skill that involves careful planning, numerous checks, and continuing supervision. This is because medication administration is one of the most common and recurrent mistakes that can occur in the healthcare setting (Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2013). This then necessitates reflection through the description, evaluating, analysis, and planning to improve nursing practice (Gibbs, 1988).
During the clinical practice unit, I administered oral medications quite efficiently but I believe that I could improve more. I followed the Medication guidelines and Nursing and Midwifery (NMBA) guidelines through explaining the drug and possible adverse effects, calculating the dose, performing drug checks, and countersigning the chart (NSW Government, 2013). Standard precautions for infection control, such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment use, and safe sharps disposal, were also
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applied in the administration of medication (NSW Government, 2013).
However, I should be more careful as there are numerous factors that I failed to consider such as contraindications, normal dosage, and kidney and liver function. Additionally, Student A's administration of an intramuscular injection was safe and efficient as he complied with the NMBA by educating the patient by explaining the drug, following medication guidelines, communicating effectively (NMBA, 2008). He checked the expiry, calculated the appropriate dosage, kept the key parts sterile, administered at a 90-degree angle with aspirations in the vastus lateralis, and countersigned the chart, in accordance to the Medication Handling guidelines (McKenna, 2017; NSW Government, 2013). On the other hand, Student B's
administration of a subcutaneous injection could be considered poor practice as he did not indicate to the patient what the medication was for, when the Code of Ethics necessitates it to facilitate informed decision-making (NMBA, 2008). Although he administered the injection at a 45-degree angle in the thigh, he did not calculate the appropriate dosage, which is in contrast to the Medication Handling guidelines and could have potentially led to patient harm (NSW Government, 2013). Moreover, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and nervous as I realised that medication administration could cause patient harm, potentially killing a patient due to medication errors. I was dissatisfied with Student B as his lack of calculations as he could have killed a patient. However, I was really inspired by Student A's performance in that he administered the medication safely, such as aspirating before injecting. The positive aspects of Student A's performance were his compliance to the NMBA, Medication Handling, and Infection control guidelines through hand hygiene, drug checks, and ensuring patient safety by complying to guidelines. On the other hand, the negative aspects of my performance involve disregarding hand hygiene, liver and kidney function, and contraindications. My own performance with oral medication has made me more cautious regarding calculating the proper dosage, and checking contraindications. Student A illustrated the proper way to administer intramuscular injections and has taught me to optimise patient safety through expiry checks and sharps safety. Additionally, student B demonstrated subpar performance and has emphasised the importance of patient education and proper calculation of dosages. These experiences demonstrated proper and improper models through their compliance to NMBA and medication guidelines, and has allowed me to gauge determine the safest and most efficient way to administer medication administration for the OSCA and future practice. Furthermore, these learning experiences could be improved through research, discussions with professionals, and combining theory with practice. To improve medication administration in the future, I will research the MIMS more thoroughly for contraindications and appropriate dosages, consult with fellow professionals, and continually develop my knowledge base of medication administration.
Louise C. Cope et al, investigated the impact of non-medical prescribing. Non-medical prescribing could be evaluated through the NMP, or other health practitioner such as GP, and patients. Currently there is limited information on how NMP has impacted other professions, such as radiographer, optometrists and physiotherapists. Personally, I think this is due to how recent these professions gained the right to prescribe. Most of the findings have been extremely positive, with limited disadvantages. Within this evaluation of NMP “students who are becoming NMPs felt that the programme provided them with adequate knowledge to prescribe with some stating that the period of learning in practice was ‘the most valuable part of the course’”
...estions if not 100% sure of something or use a double checking system. When a nurse is administrating medication, they should use the ten rights of medication administration (right patient, right drug, right route, right time, right dose, right documentation, right action, right form, right response, and right to refuse). Nurses should always keep good hand hygiene and always wear appropriate clothing to prevent from the spread of disease. Good communication with patients and healthcare team members is also key to success. Keeping on the eye on the patient within an appropriate time is important. If the patient ever seems to be looking different than their usual self vitals should be taken immediately. Encouraging patients to ask questions if they are unaware of something can prevent errors as well. Nurses should make sure the patient is on the same page as they are.
Working in the pharmaceutical industry, there are different types of environments you could possibly work in. There are chain pharmacies, like any kind of grocery store or CVS. There are franchise pharmacies, which are also known as apothecaries. Also, there are community pharmacies, which are also known as retail pharmacies. Some of them are independent pharmacies, which is usually owned by a pharmacist or a group of pharmacists.. There are hospital pharmacies, in which are in the hospital. There are many more different types, these are only a few.
Most undergraduate nursing students are not being properly educated on proper medication administration. Clinical instructors and registered nurses need to be updated on medication administration reporting, so students do not develop bad habits when they become registered nurses. Registered nurses must also continue their education on med error prevention to prevent future errors. Another significant problem with registered nurses was that they did not have positive attitudes when reporting an error. Once these negative attitudes were changed, more errors were reported (Harding & Petrick, 2008). The three main problems that cause medication errors...
Currently, through observations and clinical experience on Med/Surg at Cary Medical Center, medication is administered by the nurse. Nurses are responsible and accountable for administrating medications to patients. Patient me...
Currently, through observations and clinical experience on Med/Surg at Cary Medical Center, medication is administered by the nurse. Nurses are responsible and accountable for administrating medications to patients. Patient medication education is conducted by the nurse. Medication education includes informing the patient the reason for the medication, when and how long to take the medication, drug interactions, and importance of checking with primary care provider prior to taking any over-the-counter or herbal products. If the nurse is unfamiliar with a certain medication, a drug book is available for the nurse to utilize and gain knowledge regarding the drug use, action, adverse reaction, and contraindications.
Implementing technology in a clinical setting is not easy and cannot be successful without a well-organized system. It is important that healthcare providers understand the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and its role in improving patient safety. One of the most significant aspects of healthcare is the safety of our patients. Medication errors account for 44,000-98,000 deaths per year, more deaths than those caused by highway accidents or breast cancer. Several health information technologies help to reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Once of these technologies is bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA). These systems are designed to ensure that the right drug is being administered via the right
Responsibility and accountability become important when medical staff gives or doses patients with medication. The chance for making a medication error presents itself at all times. Those passing medications must follow established policies and procedures developed and laid forth by t...
...helly, PharmD., Snyder, Julie S., M.S.N, R.N.-B.C., (2014). Pharmacology and the Nursing Process. Saint Louis, MO: Mosby
Overall, I retain three goals for this clinical day: Safely and efficently administer medication, enhance my nursing/CNA skills, and determine how to implement infection control into a health care setting. This week reflects my assigned time to administer medication in a health care setting for the first time, with a resident who retains nearly twenty medications. I except this experience will be a great learning experience, but it will also subsist slightly stressful. With the assistance of my FOR, my goal is to administer all of my resident 's medications without complications. To ensure that medication safety, I will perform the six medication rights and three checks prior to administration. Along with medication administration, a goal
Tzeng, H., Yin, C., & Schneider, T. E. (2013). Medication Error-Related Issues In Nursing Practice. MEDSURG Nursing, 22(1), 13-50.
Drug administration forms a major part of the clinical nurse’s role. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor and dispensed by the pharmacist but responsibility for correct administration rests with the registered nurse (O'Shea 1999). So as a student nurse this has become my duty and something that I need to practice and become competent in carrying it out. Each registered nurse is accountable for his/her practice. This practice includes preparing, checking and administering medications, updating knowledge of medications, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, reporting adverse drug reactions and teaching patients about the drugs that they receive (NMC 2008). Accountability also goes for students, if at any point I felt I was not competent enough to dispensing a certain drug it would be my responsibility in speaking up and let the registered nurses know, so that I could shadow them and have the opportunity to learn help me in future practice and administration.
Baccalaureate nurses are responsible for providing and ensure our patients safety. The knowledge from others mistakes can help informs nurses of extra precautions that we can take to ensure our patient’s safety. Risk Analysis and Implication for practice course helped me understand the steps I as a nurse can take as well as the facilities I work for to help reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Interviewing the pharmacist help me get a better insight to what facilities already have in place to help prevent medication errors. However like most things you have to have educated and compassionate caring staff to enforce and follow the guidelines set in place.
With the increased cost of manufacturing, pharmaceutical companies have been divesting in their smaller or less profit making operations and focus on large segments. Many Pharmaceutical companies sold their manufacturing sites to contract manufacturing organizations. The dynamics of interfacing with contract manufacturing organization added intricacy in pharmaceutical supply chain network of pharmaceutical companies.
Care planning is one of these tasks, as expressed by, RNCentral (2017) in “What Is a Nursing Care Plan and Why is it Needed?” it says, “Care plans provide direction for individualized care of the client.” A care plan is for an individual patient and unique for the patient’s diagnosis. It is a nurse’s responsibility to safely administer a patient’s medication prescribed by the doctor. Colleran Michelle Cook (2017) in “Nurses’ Six Rights for Safe Medication Administration,” she says, “The right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route and the right time form the foundation from which nurses practice safely when administrating medications to our patients in all health care settings.” Nurses must be safe when dealing with medications, and making sure they have the right patient. Nurses document the care that is given to their patient, as said by, Medcom Trainex (2017) in “Medical Errors in Nursing: Preventing Documentation Errors,” it states, “Nurses are on the front lines of patient care. Their written accounts are critical for planning and evaluation of medical interventions and ongoing patient care.” Nurses must provide an exact, complete, and honest accounts of everything that happens with a patient. Doing this allows for the proper evaluation, and medical interventions for the patient. The typical tasks a nurse involves care planning, administration of treatments and medication, and documenting the care given to a