The previous evaluation highlighted the need of preventing errors in medication. In this evaluation, we will dig more into the topic regarding medication mistakes that occur in healthcare facilities. In order to reduce the occurrence of pharmaceutical errors, healthcare facilities should establish and uphold a reliable medication management system. Medication errors, as defined by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, occur whenever a health care practitioner makes a mistake that results in the inappropriate use of medication or patient damage. Patients can be harmed by medications that are incorrect, and the burden of responsibility for such mistakes rests squarely on the shoulders of the nurse or other healthcare provider who made the prescription. Background Of the Problem It is estimated that hospitalized patients experience at least one medication error per day, with up to 35% of those errors being classified as either significant or life-threatening (Schmidt et al., 2017). According to the prior analysis, prescription mistakes occur when the healthcare provider is distracted from their work or has too many patients for them to properly attend to. Medication errors include, but are not limited to, providing a patient oxycodone when they were not prescribed it or administering an incorrect dose of a prescribed medication. Because of the potential dangers associated with administering the improper dosage, the pharmacy is an integral part of the healthcare team's evaluation of medication timing and dosing. Bringing up the significance of high alert drugs should be a part of any study on the topic of medication errors. Insulin, potassium chloride, antibiotics and heparin are all examples of such drugs. 27-72% of all medication errors (also known as HAM) involve high alert drugs, according to studies (Sodre Alves et al., 2021). Lack of information about dosing
3 and scheduling, confusion between doses and concentrations of drugs, and a failure to differentiate between insulin types all contribute to this category of mistakes. Lack of familiarity with high alert drugs is a common cause of prescription errors. Errors in the future administration of these medications and the process for providing these medications should be examined to prevent serious illness or death. Analysis As an ICU nurse, one must be responsible for the daily preparation and administration of drugs requiring a high level of attention. Because of this work with the administration of high alert drugs, one must be well-versed in their administration procedures to ensure patient safety. The potential for fatal ill effects from improper administration makes it imperative that these drugs be treated with extreme care. To further ensure patient safety, the nurse must remain vigilant regarding the correct methods and procedures for administering these medications. Ethical Implications of Medication Errors According to Sorrell (2017), there are various ethical principles of autonomy and right to self-determination, beneficence and nonmaleficence, right to information, and veracity, which are relevant to the problem of drug errors. A pharmaceutical error should be reported to both the doctor and the patient. Assuming they have all the facts, patients are better able to make educated choices about their health care. Based on the findings of the preceding analysis, it is clear that nurses are reluctant to disclose prescription errors for fear of repercussions on their employment. To the contrary, our patients have a right to know whether an error was made in their care and treatment plans. Healthcare providers are obligated to cause no harm to their patients and should instead focus on providing the highest quality care possible, according to the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence. Some drug errors are not as serious or don't
4 have negative side effects, but they nonetheless hurt the patient, the healthcare provider who made the mistake, and the entire system (Sorrell J.M., 2017). In the event of a medication error, it is essential to notify the patient in the presence of the provider so that they are aware of any necessary therapies to counteract the error and may recognize any symptoms that should be reported to the provider or nurse. Full disclosure of all medical treatments, including pharmaceutical errors, is a cornerstone of the patients' bill of rights (Sorrell J.M., 2017), which is why the focus is on transparency and the right to knowing. Patients have a right to know as much as possible about their treatment options, and it's also the right thing to do from a moral standpoint. Every organization should have well-defined rules for reporting mistakes in the delivery of medical care. Truthfulness, or veracity, is the quality of always telling the truth. The trust between a patient and their doctor or other medical professional
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