1. Discussion: Current Healthcare Problem
Discussion: Current Healthcare ProblemORDER HERE FOR ORIGINAL, PLAGIARISM-FREE
PAPERS ON Discussion: Current Healthcare Problem(Great English is a must!! No grammar
errors!)(Paraphrase the paper attached)(Nothing more needs to be done, only paraphrase
the document)(You only have to paraphrase the answers, NOT the question itself)(The
document is attached,APA Format)(The number of words should stay close to the original
file)File Name :Paraphrase medication Error——————————–Task: The document is
fully retrieved from external sources due to that it has a high plagiarism percentage. Your
purpose is to reprhase each question in order to reduce the plagiarism to under 6% ( make
it passable through Turnitin).Other information: DO NOT USE ANY PARAPHRASING
SOFTWARES. I already tried them and they fail doing their job. The plagiarism still remains
high and the final version is incoherent. Please focus on maintaining the coherency of the
document attached.Format:APA FormatNo plagiarism is acceptedNo Grammar errors (
refunds will be asked for incoherent/ full of grammar errors papers)*** The work will be
checked for plagiarism through Turnitin by the professor. It is essential for everything to be
free of plagiarism otherwise sanctions will be imposed***——–Thank you for your
supportparaphrase_medication_error.docUnformatted Attachment PreviewRunning head:
ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE Analyze a Current Health Care
Problem or Issue Stephanie Elder Capella University Developing a Health Care Perspective
January 27, 2020 1 ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE Analyze a
Current Health Care Problem or Issue 2 ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR
ISSUE 3 As it is generally known, medication errors are a serious issue in the healthcare
field and one of the most common medical errors that threaten patient safety and can lead
to serious harm or even death. This assessment will review and discuss the medication
errors that occur when patients are subjected to potential harm or injury whilst under the
supervision of medical professionals. A medication error is any preventable event that may
cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in
control of the health care professional, patient or consumer. Prevention of medication
errors can happen at every stage of the medication preparation and distribution process
and is pertinent to maintain a safe healthcare system (Cloete, 2015). Discussion: Current
Healthcare ProblemThere are many policies currently implemented in health care facilities
that reduce the risk of medication errors, perhaps, additional steps need to be introduced.
Elements of the Problem/Issue Research explains that medication errors remain to be one
of the most common causes that compromises patient safety and results in a large financial
2. burden to the health service. Approximately one third of the errors that harm patients occur
during the nurse administration phase. Medication error contributing factors that relate
specifically to nurses, include patient acuity and nursing workload, the distractions and
interruptions during medication administration and failure of nurses to adhere to policies
or guidelines. (Cloete, 2015). Patient acuity and nursing workload result in nurse fatigue
and are more likely to focus poorly on work-related activities and potentially make more
errors (Cloete, 2015). High-acuity patients often present challenging medical conditions,
and they often have significant and unpredictable needs. Discussion: Current Healthcare
ProblemIn practice, this means stable patients with more predictable outcomes receive less
frequent or less intensive nursing care. For example, if a nurse has a high-acuity patient
assignment then it is more likely that the nurse will have a medication error due to more
ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE 4 frequent demands by the
patients, thus putting the patients’ safety in jeopardy. This in turn ties into nursing
workload defined as the ratio of nurses compared with the number of patients hospitalized.
Interruptions and distractions that occurred during medication administration, these
factors often lead to delays and sometimes errors (Bucknall, T, Fossum, M, Hutchinson,
2019). An example of an interruption or distraction includes patient call bells, fall alarms or
people entering or speaking in the medication preparation room. Nurses use a double-
checking process called the “rights of medication administration” and it is a very effective
verification method when utilized properly. Discussion: Current Healthcare
ProblemLimiting distractions and interruptions can help decrease medication errors and
create a safer environment for patients. Failure to follow policy or guidelines are one of the
more common personal contributors to medication errors. Reasons given for deviations
from policy were mostly to save time (Cloete, 2015). An example of not following policies or
guidelines involve neglecting to check a patients’ identification band in comparison to the
patients’ medication chart to ensure it’s correct. Although time constraints and convenience
play a role in the medication administration task but nurses must ensure they are utilizing
the steps that are in place to keep patients safe. Analysis As a staff nurse on a progressive
care unit, it is important for me to be aware of medication errors, which affect patient
safety. I personally do occasionally find it difficult to administer medications at the
appropriate times due to patient acuity, interruptions and workload. Having five patients
with high acuity and increased medical demands does make it difficult to administer
medications on time. Proper staffing ratios pose an issue when it comes to medication
administration on my unit which then leads to medication errors. Some medication
ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE 5 errors are documented
electronically on the EMAR (electronic medication administration record) and some are
reported to the physician and nursing manager. Context for Medication Error Issues Nurses
administering medication can provide a safeguard against medication errors made at
previous stages of the process by querying the type or amount of medication. The cognitive
burden associated with administering medications in complex systems is frequently
overlooked when reviewing medication errors. Discussion: Current Healthcare ProblemThe
likelihood of errors has been found to be three times higher when staff work 12.5 or more
hours in a shift, and nurses are two and half times more likely to suffer burnout when
3. regularly working shifts of ten hours or longer (Cloete, 2014). At an individual level, there is
more pressure and demands put on nursing staff when it comes to patient assignments on a
unit. With the combination of patient acuity and workload, this makes patients vulnerable
to medication errors which in turn patient safety suffers. At a system level, facilities and
organizations fail to provide proper support to nursing staff such as being understaffed, not
taking into account patient acuity when admitting patients and having the facility budget be
more of a priority than patient safety. Working short staffed while still accepting high acuity
patients puts a lot of stress on nursing staff, delays patient medication treatment and puts
critical patients at risk. Populations Affected by Medication Error Issues All populations are
affected by medication errors, inpatient, observation patients, surgical patients, intensive
care patients, monitored patients, emergency patients, are all at risk of medication errors.
Patients with long term conditions are likely to know a great deal about their usual
medication therefore patients are potentially and often the final defense against errors
ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE 6 relating to their medication.In
a Swiss study, the majority of oncology patients were confident that they could watch for
errors and notify staff (Garfield, Jheeta, Husson, 2016). Considering Options Decreasing
medication errors in the hospital setting can be achieved by implementing a culture of
safety that includes patient engagement when it comes to medications and rectifying nurse-
to-patient ratios. The need to involve patients in medication activities as part of a safety
check could be deemed helpful and should be standard as a part of “patient centered care”.
Patient involvement may improve therapeutic medication administration, create time
efficiencies and improve discharge planning. Creating an environment where patients feel
empowered and comfortable is vital in supporting them to be involved in their own
medication administration and that participation can improve medication-related outcomes
(Bucknall, T, Fossum, M, Hutchinson, 2019). Although, not all patients are cognitively aware
enough to participate in their own medication administration, this could be resolved by
close observation and good communication between interdisciplinary members. Nurses’ at
the bedside is essential to their ability to ensure patient safety. Discussion: Current
Healthcare ProblemThey are a constant fixture at the bedside and regularly connect
physicians, pharmacists, families to the patients’ medical condition/status. Assigning
increasing numbers of patients compromises the nurses’ ability to provide safe care. The
nurse-to-patient ratio is only one aspect of the relationship between nursing workload and
patient safety. Burnout among clinicians has consistently been liked to patient safety risks
and some studies show higher numbers of patients per nurse is correlated with increased
risk of burnout. As a result of high workloads and the acute nature of patients’ conditions
are more likely to potentially make more errors (Cloete, ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH
CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE 7 2014). Determining adequate nurse staffing is a complex
process that varies on a daily basis but it requires close cooperation between management
and nursing. This method needs improved and could be solved by better communication
and closer coordination between managers and staff nurses. Instead of having managers
and supervisors to determine staffing, perhaps staff nurses should be involved more daily
because they have better insight on the type of patients admitted to the unit. Solution A
major concern for patient safety in hospitals is accurate administration of medications to
4. improve the medication administration process, nurses, patients and managerial staff must
work and communicate together. For example, an overdue medication for a patient can be
prevented by understanding the reason it was late and what contributing factors are
involved. It could be resolved by increasing nursing staff on the unit or perhaps the nurse
got distracted and forgot, having informed and involved the patient could have corrected
this issue. Discussion: Current Healthcare ProblemImplementation To reduce the risk of
medication errors, education is vital. Educating the patient throughout their medication
administration process and keeping them involved on their own care. Actually,
implementing the “patient-centered care” model is important in regards to patient safety
and reducing medication errors. It isn’t only beneficial to the patient but for the nurse as
well, including the patient is just another “final check” in the five rights of medication
administration. Informing patients about charted medications was recognized as an
important nursing role, pharmacological information about medications and when a patient
required a medication review, or a clinical situation arose that could have an impact on
medication administration (Bucknall, T, Fossum, M, Hutchinson, 2019). These policies are in
effect to ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE 8 prevent these errors,
they are effective when utilized properly, right patient, right medication, right dose, right
route and right time. Using the two patient identifiers to correctly identify the patient along
with talking to them about their medication routine and medication list will help correct
these errors. Patient acuity and workload is a harder target to hit in the fact that there’s
never enough staff. In order to reach the goal of safe nurse-to-patient ratio, more nurses
need to be available. Managers and supervisors should take more accountability when it
comes to their units’ staffing ratios. Discussion: Current Healthcare ProblemWhen there is a
shortage then managers and supervisors should be required to fill in. Patient safety should
be everyone’s number one priority rather than whether a manager or supervisor feels like
being a part of the staffing numbers for the unit. Research shows that a supportive practice
environment including improved teamwork between doctors and nurses and pharmacists
and fostering the continuity of patient care enhances nurses’ capacity to intercept errors,
which reduces medication errors (Bucknall, T, Fossum, M, Hutchinson, 2019). Preventing
burnout and helping relieve the workload of nurses will help decrease these medication
errors by helping to maintain the focus of staff nurses. This in turn would minimize
distractions and interruptions by having more hands-on deck and having more participants
when it comes to keeping patients safe and free from errors. Conclusion Medication errors
include focusing on patient safety and preventing the risk of harm to patients by utilizing
the patient-centered care model. Discussion: Current Healthcare ProblemHealth care
facilities must understand the contributing factors that potentiate medication errors.
Potential solutions include patient involvement in their own medication administration and
better patient-to-nurse ratios or decreased workload. It is important that health-care
facilities review policies and procedures ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM
OR ISSUE based on nursing and ethical standards with nursing staff and managerial staff.
Keeping employees on the same page, displaying teamwork and enforcing nursing
standards will help prevent or decrease medication errors therefore, increasing patient
safety and patient outcomes. 9 ANALYZE A CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROBLEM OR ISSUE
5. 10 References Bucknall, T, Fossum, M, Hutchinson, AM, et al. Nurses’ decision‐making,
practices and perceptions of patient involvement in medication administration in an acute
hospital setting. J Adv Nurs. 2019; 75: 1316– 1327. Retrieved from
https://doiorg.library.capella.edu/10.1111/jan.13963 Cloete, L. (2015). Reducing
medication errors in nursing practice. Cancer Nursing Practice (2014+), 14(1), 29.
Retrieved from doi:http://dx.doi.org.library.capella.edu/10.7748/cnp.14.1.29.e1148
Garfield, S., Jheeta, S., Husson, F., Lloyd, J., Taylor, A., Boucher, C., . . . Franklin, B. D. (2016).
The role of hospital inpatients in supporting medication safety: A qualitative study. PLoS
One, 11(4) Retrieved from
doi:http://dx.doi.org.library.capella.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0153721
