Question

Identify some strengths and weaknesses in the area of medication administration.

Write a short plan on how you can improve on identified areas of weakness.

Answer 1

Medication administration needs a sound knowledge and keen observation to prevent medication error.

Strength of nurses in the area of medication administration includes:

- sound knowledge of pharmacology in basic nurses courses .

- years of experience more the years of experience less the medication error. An expertise nurse is more aware of each drug it's action side effect mode of administration that came from the experience.

- Electronic medication administration record a recent technology ease nurses work by keeping a keen watch on medication administration in each steps like prescribing, dispensing,

WEAKNESS:

- Nurses with lack of pharmacology knowledge commits medication error on dosage calculation and infusion rates.

- Misinterpretation of medical orders like misunderstanding STAT doses.

- Staff scarcity will forces nurses to attend many drug administration in a day . This make nurses fed up and mentally tired leads to medication errors.

Plan to improve areas of weakness:

1) Nurses must avoid distractions while preparing drugs so drugs preparation can be done in a calm and quite environment.

2) Check three times for all 7 rights on drug administration like Right patient,right dose, right medication,right route and right documentation.

3) Use patient identifiers before administering drugs to ensure right patient.

4) Medication expiry and near expiry dates to be check to avoid usage of expired medications as they are inactive and won't help in curing disease.

5) Handle high alert medications like ionotropics, narcotics,opiates with utmost care.

6) Follow double lock protocol for all narcotic drugs used in hospital.

7) Automated medication dispensing system can used in which nurses enters patient name, medication and the route of administration. Medication administration record is encoded with patient electronic health informations helps nurses to retrieve patient data easily.

8) Review specific Laboratory investigations before administering the drug. For ex) Patient on Lithium medication got his three doses of drug. Nurse is about to administer morning dose of lithium , before administering she check therapeutic level of serum lithium value which Is 2 MEq/ dl indicates a serious lithium toxicity . In this case nurse must avoid administering the lithium as there is evidence of lithium toxicity.

7) If any doubts in prescription nurse must make clear with physician before administered the drug.