Nursing Prevention Errors

The Nurses’ Responsibility in the Prevention of Medication Errors

Rogelio Palenque

Management Resources Institute

Professor Ismary Ruiz

ENC 1101 Research Paper

Abstract

“10 percent to 18 percent of hospital injuries attribute to medication errors; 44,000 to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals annually due to medication errors” (Pickar p 1). These numbers do not arise from a lack of or malfunction of technology, but from the inadequate safety protocols of the healthcare profession. The role of the nurse has traditionally included the surveillance of patients and the administration of medication whenever necessary, but now has become more involved in the prevention of medication errors. Medication errors have affected many patients in U.S. hospitals, and studies have shown that the main reasons include insufficient staff, inexperience, and avoidance of procedure or protocol. However, experts on the matter suggest that nurses have an essential role in discovering and correcting medical errors. For this reason, the nurse has been empowered, as duty and obligation, “to question doctors’ orders and to refuse to administer medications or carry our procedures that they feel are inappropriate” (Rogers p. 1). Studies show that nurses should have the vital role in preventing medication errors; however, they would have to follow diligently these safety measures, knowing the patient’s medical profile before administering drugs, knowing about medications and the proper way of administering them, maintaining constant surveillance of patient, and questioning procedures or administration of medications that seem inappropriate. The purpose of empowering nurses is solely based on the fact that, nurses work closely with patients and are constantly servicing the patients.

The nursing profession requires that every practicing nurse should always review and analyze a patient’s medical history before performing any patient care procedure. Nurses should always have at...