During my practice, I discovered that the medical problem in the company I was with is medication mistakes. In healthcare, medication errors can have serious consequences on patients, health care providers, and hospitals. The errors may occur during any phase of the drug process including prescription, administration, monitoring, or dispensing. Medication errors may cause minor discomfort or even death.
The fact that patients are less trusting of healthcare professionals and facilities is a concern for nurses. Medication errors may undermine the trust that patients have in healthcare providers. The nurses’ responsibility is to make sure that patients receive the correct medications, doses, and times. Nurses must act quickly to restore patient confidence and trust when medication mistakes occur.
A legal suit could be brought against a nurse for a medication error. Medication errors may be considered a breach in the duty of care nurses have to their patients. Patients or their family members may decide to take legal action against healthcare professionals or facilities. In order to reduce the likelihood of legal action and medication errors, nurses should ensure they follow all procedures and policies related to administration.
Conclusion: Medication errors pose a serious clinical issue with wide-ranging implications for nurses. Nursing must be proactive to minimize medication mistakes, ensure patient trust and prevent legal action. Nurses can improve the outcomes of patients and ensure safe, effective care by reducing medication errors.
Referrals
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2015). Joint statement on delegation. https://www.ncsbn.org/Delegation_joint_statement_NCSBN_National_Council_Final.pdf
Department of Health and Human Services of the United States. (2019). Privacy of health information https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/index.html