Analysis of a Medication Error Instructions
1.
Search online for an article related to a medication
error. Search terms can include medication
error cases, cases of medication errors by nurses,
etc. Be sure to choose an article that
describes as many details about the case as
possible. Try to find one that involves nurses. Attach the article to
the paper when you submit it.
2.
Look up the medication or medications involved in a
drug reference so you know what they are for, the
usual dose, etc. Include that in your paper.
3.
Content: In your
paper, describe the event as thoroughly as possible:
a.
What happened? [Check the
5 rights (right patient, medication, dose, time, route) and
documentation, plus allergies, refusal, and patient education.] Describe
in your own words what happened. Be specific. State the original provider’s order, how it
was dispensed, who administered it and how. What was the problem?
Describe the patient’s response, and what harm was done. If no harm was
done, describe what harm COULD have happened?
b.
Where in the chain is the origin of
the error? Identify where the error occurred and with whom. Was it
prescribed incorrectly? Dispensed incorrectly? Administered incorrectly?
Or was there a known drug interaction or allergy that could have been
anticipated?
c.
Were there any special circumstances involved? Was there an
emergency at the time? Was there short
staffing? Was someone
distracted?
4.
Analysis: Using all of the information above,
explain WHY the error occurred,
WHY it got as far as it did, and WHAT can be done
to stop it.
a.
What circumstances contributed to this error?
b.
Where in this situation could the
error have been stopped? How?
What would need to have happened for
the error to be prevented?
c.
Where in this particular situation would a nurse
have been able to
intervene to stop a potential error from
occurring? (It may be more
than one place.)
APA Style:
Use at least 4 sources
Submit your paper to Turn-it-in.com
through Canvas before the due
date and time
