NURSING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Nursing Roles and Responsibilities

Nursing Role and Responsibilities

Purpose and Problem

Referring to the article medication errors, broadly defined as any error in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of a drug, irrespective of whether such errors lead to adverse consequences or not, are the single most preventable cause of patient harm. Medication errors may be classified according to the stage of the medication use cycle in which they occur (prescribing, dispensing, or administration) although a recent classification of medication error into mistakes, slips, or lapses has been proposed. The multiple steps in the medication chain, from when a drug is prescribed to when a patient receives the drug, leads to significant scope for error. However, significant improvements can be achieved from the prevention of medication errors, in terms of reduced patient morbidity, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs. A classification system based on a psychological approach has been proposed which allows one to identify broad categories of error, quantify them, and develop an intervention to prevent them.

Type of study

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between level of education and medication errors and years of work experience and medication errors.With a better understanding of these relationships, nursing professionals can learn what characteristics tend to make a nurse prone to medication errors and can develop methods and procedures to reduce incidence. (Chris G. et. al. 2003)

Study design

This study used a quantitative non-experimental correlation design to examine the relationship between medication errors and level of education in addition to the relationship between medication errors and years of nursing experience.A survey consisting of six questions regarding medication administration experience was used for data collection. Microsoft Excel was used in calculations and presentation of the results. The data for this study was collected through anonymous self reported surveys distributed to nursing staff members throughout the selected hospital.

The surveys consisted of six questions that were a combination of short answer and multiple choice. The surveys were placed on each floor of the hospital in the nurses' stations in a labeled manila envelope with instructions concerning participation in the study. Additionally, there was another envelop for the subjects to place the completed surveys.The researchers collected the completed surveys on the Friday of each week for a two week period. Upon completion of the two week period, all the surveys were compiled and analyzed. Microsoft Excel was used in calculations and presentation of the results.The statistics were added and averaged per nurse per level of education and also added and averaged per nurse per years of experience. All original surveys were shredded. The subjects of this study were Bachelor of Science in Nursing Registered Nurses, Associate Degree Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses from a rural hospital in west Georgia.The convenience sample was obtained through distribution of surveys to nurses on each floor of the selected hospital. Participation was voluntary and surveys were completely anonymous. Chris G. et. al. 2003)

Theoretical or Conceptual framework

Mistakes may be defined as errors in the ...