Enhancing Quality and Safety

The pursuit of patient safety within healthcare is continuous and paramount. As guardians of patient well-being, nurses are tasked with implementing quality improvement measures that enhance patient safety during medication administration while striving to reduce the associated costs. Medication errors can have severe consequences for patients and healthcare organizations (Mulac et al., 2020). In this assessment, we delve into a critical scenario involving John, a 63-year-old diabetic patient, who experienced a medication error due to high workload and distractions. Our exploration will revolve around identifying factors contributing to the patient safety risk, presenting evidence-based and best-practice solutions, and examining how nurses can coordinate care with various stakeholders to bolster patient safety and economize healthcare resources. By dissecting this scenario, we will unveil the pivotal role of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in shaping a culture of safety within healthcare settings. NURS-FPX 4020 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety

Patient Safety Risk and Administration of Medication

John’s safety risk focusing on medication administration can be attributed to several factors, supported by data, evidence, and standards:

High Workload and Distractions

The primary factor contributing to John’s safety risk was the high workload and distractions in the healthcare setting during medication administration. This is a common issue in healthcare. According to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), high nurse workload and distractions are significant contributors to medication errors, with research indicating that increased patient-to-nurse ratios are associated with higher error rates (Ratanto et al., 2021).

Lack of Double-Check Protocol 

The absence of a robust double-check protocol for high-risk medications like insulin played a role in the medication error. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) recommends a double-check process for high-alert medications to prevent errors (ISMP, 2019). The lack of adherence to this standard contributed to John’s safety risk. NURS-FPX 4020 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safetyc

Complexity of Medication Regimen 

John had a complex medication regimen due to his diabetes and comorbidities. The complexity of the regimen increases the risk of errors. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) emphasizes simplifying medication regimens whenever possible to enhance patient safety (Luzuriaga et al., 2021).

Lack of Technology Support 

The absence of technology support, such as Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) or Electronic Health Records (EHR) with medication alerts, also contributed to the safety risk. Research published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship has shown that BCMA systems can significantly reduce medication errors (Mulac et al., 2021). NURS-FPX 4020 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety

Evidence-Based and Best Practice Solutions

To enhance John’s safety during medication administration while simultaneously reducing costs, healthcare organizations should adopt evidence-based and best-practice solutions. Implementing Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) technology, as supported by a study in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, can significantly reduce medication errors by ensuring the “Five Rights” of medication administration. These are the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time (Poon et al., 2020). Additionally, conducting comprehensive medication reconciliation, a recommended practice by the World Health Organization, helps identify discrepancies and improve medication safety. Standardized protocols and guidelines for high-risk medications, such as insulin, should be developed, following evidence-based recommendations from organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) (Killin et al., 2021). Furthermore, ongoing nurse training and education, as emphasized by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative, ensure that healthcare professionals are well-equipped to practice medication safety (Acorn & Adynski, 2022).