Summary: The Nurse's Role In Medication Safety

As a nurse, one of your daily responsibilities includes administering medication to patients. This task warrants precise attention as errors can potentially put your patients and hospital at risk. In the article, “The nurse’s role in medication safety,” by Barbara Durham, it discusses the various reasons why medication errors occur and what safeguards can be implemented. Some of the most common medication errors occur from communication discrepancies, human or technology error and lack of knowledge. If a nurse is vigilant in her tasks, communication, and education, the number of medication errors that occur could potentially be reduced. Barbara Durham states that administering medication is a process that goes through various phases; prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administering and monitoring and that 73% of all medication errors derive from human error (Durham, 2015). Each phase, elicits the opportunity for an error to occur as many healthcare professionals may be involved in the process. On average, ten medications doses per patient are given every day (Durham, 2015) Distractions, miscommunication, dosage calculations and
If unsure, they should take advantage of resources that are available to them, such as using a drug guide, to familiarize themselves with medications that they are not knowledgeable about. Along with comprehensive drug guides, there are also other means that are available to nurses that will help to reduce medication errors. According to Barbara Durham, many hospitals have adopted the use of, “medication management systems, computerized provider order entry, bar coding, electronic medical records, and work stations on wheels,” this allows for nurses to get frequent up to date information (Durham, 2015). While technology can inflict other issues, it can also help to minimize patient