Medication errors have serious direct and indirect results, and are usually the consequence of breakdowns in a system of care…Ten to 18% of all reported hospital injuries have been attributed to medication errors" (Mayo & Duncan 2004: 209). One of the most common reasons that errors in medical administration transpire is miscommunication. On a staff level, errors may occur in terms of the paperwork associated with the patient. The hospital pharmacist may misread the strength or even the name of the pill or the frequency of the dose and release the patient with an incorrect pill or orders. Or, within the hospital a nurse may misread the patient's orders and administer treatment incorrectly. If a nurse, within the environment of the hospital, is pressed for time or overtired, risks of medication errors increase. When a patient is discharged with orders, miscommunication can also occur if the nurse does not stress the seriousness of taking medications as the right time (some medications must be taken with food, some without food, some must be coupled with certain types of food, such as antibiotics with yogurt, to reduce digestive distress, some foods may need to be avoided). Correct dosage, such as tablespoons vs. teaspoons, or the need to split pills, must also be explained. Asking the patient to repeat directions can be a simple way to reinforce these principles. Particularly if the patient is elderly, does not have a high level of literacy, or speaks English as a second language, it is essential that the nurse tailor her responses to the individual patient. The...
Miscommunication between team members can result in incorrect dosing. Difficulties inherent to the task or an environment that is not conducive to focus and concentration can likewise result in incorrect or misread dosages. The nurse's own mental state (one of experience with the drug, culture of the patient, and level of tiredness) can affect the transmission of knowledge, as can the patient's (or caregiver's) level of literacy and understanding. One survey of nurses themselves found that nurses "cited illegible physician handwriting and being distracted or tired as the primary causes for drug errors" (Clinical rounds, 2004, Nursing).
Korotkoff Phase Should Be Used as the Endpoint for the Measurement of Diastolic Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Literature Selection and Identification Critical Appraisal of Selected Literature Five Korotkoff Phases Conducting System of Human Heart Two of the most common complicating problems seen during pregnancy are the appearance of gestational diabetes and of hypertension. Both of these conditions are more likely to occur during late pregnancy and both generally abate in the postpartum period. Nevertheless,
Pharmaceutical industries have to operate in an environment that is highly competitive and subject to a wide variety of internal and external constraints. In recent times, there has been an increasing trend to reduce the cost of operation while competing with other companies that manufacture products that treat similar afflictions and ailments. The complexities in drug research and development and regulations have created an industry that is subject to intense
health care profession is undergoing fundamental change due in part to new laws and regulations. These laws and regulations, although well intended may result in unintended consequences for the nursing profession overall. In the future, the role of a nurse will be fundamentally altered. For one, regulation such as the Affordable Care Act will result in an entire population of insured patients needing care. As such, the role of
Figure 1 portrays the state of Maryland, the location for the focus of this DRP. Figure 1: Map of Maryland, the State (Google Maps, 2009) 1.3 Study Structure Organization of the Study The following five chapters constitute the body of Chapter I: Introduction Chapter II: Review of the Literature Chapter III: Methods and Results Chapter IV: Chapter V: Conclusions, Recommendations, and Implications Chapter I: Introduction During Chapter I, the researcher presents this study's focus, as it relates to the
The subjects were 613 injured Army personnel Military Deployment Services TF Report 13 admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from March 2003 to September 2004 who were capable of completing the screening battery. Soldiers were assessed at approximately one month after injury and were reassessed at four and seven months either by telephone interview or upon return to the hospital for outpatient treatment. Two hundred and forty-three soldiers
Consultant Pharmacists Impact on the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia What is Cholesterol, and Why is it of Concern? Guidelines for Treating Hypercholesterolemia Management of Hypercholesterolemia Management of Hypercholesterolemia By Different Health Care Workers. Practical Management of Hypercholesterolemia Community Pharmacists and the Management of Hypercholesterolemia Economic Impact of Pharmacists' Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia This paper will look at the impact of consultant pharmacists on the treatment of hypercholesterolemia by physicians. Pharmacists have now assumed responsibilities outside the dispensing counter and have
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