Medication Errors

Medication Errors
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Overview
Medication errors (MEs) are a significant and widespread problem in the health care system that can cause severe harm, disability, and even death if taken incorrectly. These errors are the leading causes of avoidable patient harm worldwide in the health care system. Medication administration errors (MAEs) are the most common types of MEs, and they can have dangerous consequences for patients, health professionals, and health institutions (Wondmieneh et al., 2020).
As a community nurse, we are often responsible for administering medications since they represent the last safety check in the medication administration process. MEs can occur at any phase of the medication use process, including prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, and administering. However, most MEs occur during the administration phase. As a health worker, I have had firsthand experience with medication errors and seen their detrimental effects on patients. One of the MEs I have encountered was due to a miscommunication involving a colleague . My colleague scheduled a patient of jaundice for an intrusive surgery. The resident, four hours later, corrected the procedure and recommended a dosage for medication which later on worked out well. This prevented the patient from undergoing an unnecessary surgery, something that had troubled the patient’s mind. I am interested in MEs due to their significant impact on patient safety and the general quality of healthcare. MEs can result in severe harm, disability, and even death, making it a critical issue that needs addressing. MEs are a major cause of avoidable patient harm in the healthcare system. Identifying and intervening in the contributing factors of these errors is crucial to improve patient safety.
Assessing credibility of sources
The articles selected for this paper were chosen based on their relevance to medication errors and their focus on the causes, consequences, and prevention of these errors. I ensured the credibility of the sources by evaluating the authors’ qualifications, the research methods used, the validity of the results, and the journal’s reputation in which the articles were published. I also ensured that the articles were published in peer-reviewed journals and were current on information on the topic.
Identification of sources
During research, I utilized a variety of sources to ensure that I gathered reliable and relevant information. I first identified the keywords that would guide my search, including “medication errors,” “healthcare,” “patient care,” and “nursing.” I then searched for articles on the PubMed and ProQuest databases using these keywords as these databases provide access to a wide range of scholarly articles on the topic of MEs, including research studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
Annotated Bibliography
Alrabadi, N., Shawagfeh, S., Haddad, R., Mukattash, T., Abuhammad, S., Al-rabadi, D., Abu Farha, R., AlRabadi, S., & Al-Faouri, I. (2021). Medication errors: a focus on nursing practice. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 12(1), 78–86. https://doi.org/10.1093/jphsr/rmaa025
In this paper, Alrabadi et al. (2021) explore the different types of medication errors, the factors contributing to their occurrence, and what can be done to prevent and reduce them. The authors provide an overview of the different types of medication errors, including knowledge-based errors, rule-based errors, activity-based errors, and memory-based errors. Albaradi et al. also discuss the various causes of medication errors, such as illegible handwriting, mental and physical health issues, interruption and distraction, lack of pharmacological knowledge, and organizational factors. The authors conclude that medication errors are a major cause of avoidable patient harm in the healthcare system, and identifying and intervening in the contributing factors to improve patient safety. The authors’ thorough and well-researched overview of the topic makes it valuable to the literature on medication errors and patient safety. I chose this paper because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of medication errors, their causes, and potential solutions to prevent and reduce them. The article is valuable to healthcare professionals and researchers interested in understanding medication errors and improving patient safety.
Izadpanah, F., Nikfar, S., Bakhshi Imcheh, F., Amini, M., & Zargaran, M. (2018). Assessment of Frequency and Causes of Medication Errors in Pediatrics and Emergency Wards of Teaching Hospitals Affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (24 Hospitals). Journal of Medicine and Life, 11(4), 299–305. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2018-0046
Izadpanah et al. (2018) assess the frequency and causes of medication errors in pediatrics and emergency wards of teaching ...