Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue Capella University NHS4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective
Describing the Healthcare Problem of Issue
The healthcare issue is medication error. The annual cost of tackling medication error is approximately $6billion and $ 29 billion annually (Foster et al., 2018). Although student nurses and other health professionals take an oath not to harm their patients, medication error remains a significant public health challenge that undermines patient safety. Various reasons prevent healthcare providers from reporting these errors. In their study, Soydemir et al. (2017) found that fear prevented healthcare professionals from reporting medication errors. Nurses and physicians prefer not to report the errors they witness or commit for fear of being condemned or blamed. Also, hospital administration does not offer nurses and physicians adequate support when reporting errors, thus, diminishing their likelihood of reporting the error. Other barriers to error reporting include a lack of an error reporting system or complicated reporting systems that are difficult to use or lacks functionality. In summary, medication errors are preventable, but individual and organizational factors undermine reporting these errors.
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Possible Causes of Medication Errors
Various factors contribute to medication errors. They include exposure to illegal prescription, insufficient medication knowledge, incorrect calculations, staffing levels, workloads, interruptions, distractions, and drug rounds. According to Kavanagh (2017), illegal prescriptions contribute to medication errors because they undermine safe prescription policies. Although computer-based systems minimize medication errors, not all healthcare settings have implemented them. The author further argues that busy environments and heavy workload cause distraction and fatigue. As a result, healthcare providers neglect the 5 rights (right medication, right patient right dose, right route, right time), specifically due to interruptions. Nurses are responsible for administering medication and should have the pertinent knowledge base regarding prescriptions, including possible interactions, dosage side effects, and action. However, deficient knowledge regarding the drug being administered increases medication error (Kavanagh, 2017). Similarly, many nurses feel anxious when administering medication because of their poor drug-calculation skills. Any discrepancy in drug calculations contributes to medication errors. Addressing these factors is necessary to prevent medication errors and enhance the patient’s safety.
Review of Articles
Kavanagh, C. (2017). Medication governance: preventing errors and promoting patient safety. British Journal of Nursing, 26(3), 159-165.
The author’s credentials suggest that the article is credible. For instance, the author is lecturer at Galway-Mayo Institution Technology’s Department of Nursing, Health Sciences, and Social Care. The author provides significant insights into medication errors and measures that healthcare providers can implement to prevent these errors. Thus, the article is relevant based on the issue under discussion.
Foster, M. J., Gary, J. C., & Sooryanarayana, S. M. (2018). Direct Observation of Medication Errors in Critical Care Setting. Critical care nursing quarterly, 41(1), 76-92. https:/10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000188
The article is appropriate because it provides an analysis of medication errors and their adverse consequences. However, it also offers various strategies that healthcare organizations and providers can implement to prevent medication errors. Thus, the article is relevant because it primarily focuses on medication errors and prevention measures. The article is authoritative because the authors are affiliated with credible organizations like Texas A & M University and the Medical Sciences Library.
Soydemir, D., Seren Intepeler, S., & Mert, H. (2017). Barriers to medical error reporting for physicians and nurses. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 39(10), 1348-1363. https:/10.1177/0193945916671934
The article is relevant to the health problem because it focuses on the barriers that prevent physicians and nurses from reporting medication errors. Similarly, the authors’ credentials suggest that the source is credible because Seren Inter