Evaluating Medication Errors

Evaluating the Research Process
This was an interesting study to read and examine. Medication errors are a significant problem, but not a problem that cannot be solved. There are precautions that can be taken to minimize the errors. The three specific areas the study focused on were prescription, transcription, and administration phase. Many errors occurred during all three phases, however, not all of the errors made it to the patients. Most of the errors that reached patients did not cause harm. Ethical considerations were used during the study and conclusions were given. There are codes and policies for ethical research, but there are also gray areas not covered under “written” policies. It was an effective study in determining at
The findings are statistically significant; because of the way the data was collected and studied. As discussed in preceding papers the error rate is 35%, this is huge considering the study is discussing medication errors. The statistical data showed 146 drugs were transcribed but not prescribed; nurses wrote four verbal orders and gave the medication to the patients; 57 drugs were not transcribed by the nurses, but were prescribed. Six medications were transcribed and given, but were not prescribed. Thirty-eight drugs were missing information, and 22 patients were given drugs that were not prescribed (Jimenez Munoz, Miguez, Rodriquez Perez, Escribano, & Garcia, 2010). These errors need to be addressed and
A study of a larger population sampling would be more telling, and give more detailed information of the medication treatment process. The conclusions are appropriate because it was a study in medication error and by doing the research they were able to pinpoint three specific areas of error and further break the study down into patients affected and the way in which the patients were affected. This study showed me how effective it was in finding the errors. By finding the errors, measures can be taken to minimize or prevent them in the future. This information is useful to physicians, nurses, other providers, and patients. If we know where the errors happen we can be more informed to stop them before they reach the patient. If patients are more informed they can also help to reduce errors by asking