Question

6) Medication errors alone are responsible for the deaths of more than approximately 300,000 Americans a year. Discuss how this number can be reduced.

Answer 1

Ans) The Council defines a "medication error" as follows: "A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.

Steps to reduce medication error:

1. Ensure the ten rights of medication administration:

Right client, Right Drug, Right dose, Right route, Right time, Right education Right assessment, Right evaluation, Right to refuse

2. Follow proper medication reconciliation procedures

3. Double check—or even triple check—procedures

4. Have the physician (or another nurse) read it back.

5. Consider using a name alert

6. Place a zero in front of the decimal point.

7. Ensure proper storage of medications for proper efficacy.

8. Learn your institution’s medication administration policies, regulations, and guidelines