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Medication Errors

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Medication Errors

Medication errors are a significant issue in healthcare and are a leading cause of

patient harm. This paper will examine two peer-reviewed articles focusing on medication

errors, their causes, and prevention methods. The first article, by Tariq et al., looks at

medication dispensing errors, and the second article, by Rodziewicz et al., looks at medical

error reduction and Prevention. This paper will compare and contrast the two articles and

discuss the implications for future nursing practice.

First Article Summary

This article by Tariq et al. (2018) focuses on medication dispensing errors and how to

prevent them. Medication errors are a serious issue that can lead to patient harm if not

addressed. The article outlines the various points along the medication pathway where errors

can occur, such as prescribing, transcription, dispensing, administration, and monitoring. It

also looks at contributing factors to errors, such as poor communication, lack of knowledge,

and distractions. Furthermore, the article highlights the need for a system-wide approach to

reducing errors, such as using technology, education, and standardization.

The article looks at errors in the dispensing stage, which occurs when medications are

dispensed to the patient. This is an important point in the medication pathway, as it is the last

chance to catch any errors before the medication is given to the patient. The article identifies

several contributing factors to errors in this stage, such as incorrect labeling, wrong dose, and

wrong medication. Poor communication between the prescriber, pharmacist, and patient can

also contribute to errors.

The article is a safety concern, as medication errors can lead to serious harm or death.

Identifying and addressing errors at every point in the medication pathway is vital to ensure

patient safety. This article provides an overview of common errors, contributing factors, and
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strategies to reduce errors. Healthcare providers can work together to reduce errors and

improve patient outcomes by taking a system-wide approach to medication safety.

Second Article Summary

This article by Rodziewicz, Houseman, and Hipskind focuses on medical error

reduction and Prevention. It examines the various steps of the medication pathway where

errors occur and what factors contribute to them. It begins by looking at the prescribing

process and how errors can occur here, such as lack of knowledge, illegible prescriptions, and

using outdated information. It then moves onto the dispensing process, which can be

problematic due to incorrect or inadequate instructions, incorrect labeling, and incorrect

medication dosages. The article also looks at the administration process, where errors can

occur due to miscommunications, improper storage and handling, and inadequate monitoring.

Finally, the article discusses reducing and preventing medical errors, advocating for

electronic health records and automated systems, and improving communication between

healthcare professionals.

This article is a safety concern due to the high rate of medical errors. According to the

article, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an

estimated 251,454 deaths yearly (Rodziewicz et al., 2022). It is clear that medical errors

significantly impact patient safety, and taking steps to reduce and prevent them is essential.

This article highlights the need to improve prescribing, dispensing, and administration

processes to minimize medical errors. Healthcare professionals must be aware of the potential

for errors in the medication pathway and take steps to ensure that they are prevented.

Comparative Theme

One similar theme within the two articles was the importance of safety protocols and

safeguards to reduce medication dispensing errors and prevent medical errors. In the first

article, the authors discussed the importance of using a structured approach to medication
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dispensing that considers the patient's history, clinical condition, and the purpose of the

medication. This approach should include checks and balances, such as double-checking

orders and medications, barcode scanners, and computerized systems to ensure accuracy.

In the second article, the authors discussed the importance of safety protocols such as

using checklists, safety briefings and implementing standardized processes and procedures.

They also discussed the importance of training and educating healthcare providers to ensure

they are aware of safety protocols and the risks associated with medication dispensing and

medical errors. Thus, the two articles demonstrate the importance of safety protocols and

safeguards to reduce medication dispensing errors and prevent medical errors.

Contrast Theme

One theme that differed between the two articles was how they defined and addressed

medical errors. The first article, Medication Dispensing Errors and Prevention, defined

medical errors as "any event that leads to inappropriate use or administration of a drug" and

provided strategies to prevent them. These strategies focused on improving technology and

processes, such as introducing automated systems to reduce human error and educating

healthcare workers on proper medication dispensing.

The second article, Medical Error Reduction, and Prevention, defined medical errors

as "any deviation from the expected performance of a healthcare provider or medical system"

and provided strategies to reduce and prevent them. These strategies focused on increasing

communication and teamwork, such as involving all stakeholders in a healthcare system to

reduce errors and implementing interprofessional cross-checking protocols to prevent errors.

Thus, while both articles focused on reducing and preventing medical errors, the

strategies each proposed were quite different. The first article focused on improving

technology and processes, while the second focused on increasing communication and
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teamwork. This highlights the need for healthcare systems to focus on technology and

communication to reduce and prevent medical errors effectively.

Significance of First Article Selection

I chose this article because it provides a comprehensive overview of medication

dispensing errors, their causes, and prevention measures. The article is useful in

understanding the complexities of medication errors and exploring ways to reduce them. It

emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to prevent medication errors, which can

improve patient safety. Additionally, the article highlights the need for effective

communication between patients, clinicians, and pharmacists to reduce the risk of errors. This

article is relevant to my current work as a nurse, as it provides insight into strategies that can

be used to prevent medication errors. Therefore, I found this article valuable in understanding

the intricacies of medication dispensing errors and prevention measures.

Significance of Second Article Selection

I chose this article because it focuses on a very important topic of medical error

reduction and Prevention. This topic needs to be discussed and addressed in healthcare, as

medical errors can have devastating consequences for patients. The article also provides a

comprehensive discussion of the causes of medical errors and how they can be prevented.

This article is a great source of information on this topic, and I look forward to reading more

about it and learning how to reduce and prevent medical errors in the future.

Implications & Conclusions

The two articles on medication dispensing errors and Prevention, and medical error

reduction and Prevention, will be extremely useful to inform my future nursing practice. The

first article discusses the importance of medication safety and highlights the various strategies

used to reduce medication errors, such as improved organization and labeling of medications,

patient safety protocols, and medication reconciliation. Knowing this information will help
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me better organize and label medications and ensure that patient safety protocols are

followed. Furthermore, I will be better able to identify any potential errors in medication

administration and take the necessary steps to prevent them.

The second article focuses on medical error reduction and Prevention and provides an

overview of the factors that can contribute to medical errors. These include inadequate

communication, lack of knowledge, and system failures. The article highlights the importance

of implementing a safety culture, involving all healthcare providers in identifying and

resolving errors, and implementing patient safety protocols to prevent such errors. Knowing

this information, I will be better able to identify and address potential errors and ensure that

patient safety protocols are followed.

Finally, I will use these two articles to understand better the importance of medication

and medical error prevention and how to prevent them. This will help me to develop my

ability to identify potential errors and take the necessary steps to prevent them. Additionally,

I will be better able to implement patient safety protocols and foster a culture of safety within

the healthcare team to ensure the highest quality of care for my patients.
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References

Rodziewicz, T. L., Houseman, B., & Hipskind, J. E. (2022). Medical error reduction and

Prevention. StatPearls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/

Tariq, R. A., Vashisht, R., Sinha, A., & Scherbak, Y. (2018). Medication dispensing errors

and Prevention. https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/nbk519065