Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

Major

Bachelors Degree of Nursing

2nd Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

2nd Student Major

Bachelors Degree of Nursing

3rd Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

3rd Student Major

Bachelors Degree of Nursing

4th Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

4th Student Major

Bachelors Degree of Nursing

Institution

Morehead State University

KY House District #

99

KY Senate District #

27

Department

Bachelors Degree of Nursing Program

Abstract

The purpose of our research is to decrease the number of IV medication errors. IV medication errors occur due to the wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong rate, wrong concentration, incorrect aseptic technique, known allergies, omitted medications, wrong time of administration, incorrect labeling, patient identification, and no order for the infusion. Nurses’ perceptions of why medication errors occur included physicians’ medication orders are not clear, the names of many medications are similar, pharmacy did not label the medication correctly, poor communication, lack of staff to patient ratio, fatigue from hard work, nurses' heavy workload, and working night shift. This quality improvement project provides a step-by-step protocol of setting up, administering IV medications, and monitoring the patient after. A combination of standardized practice, technology improvements, and targeted education is required to reduce errors. It is hoped that this quality improvement project will inform nurses on how to prevent and reduce IV medication errors by focusing on the factors that cause this problem.

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An Evidenced-Based Protocol for Eliminating Errors associated with Intravenous Medication Errors

The purpose of our research is to decrease the number of IV medication errors. IV medication errors occur due to the wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong rate, wrong concentration, incorrect aseptic technique, known allergies, omitted medications, wrong time of administration, incorrect labeling, patient identification, and no order for the infusion. Nurses’ perceptions of why medication errors occur included physicians’ medication orders are not clear, the names of many medications are similar, pharmacy did not label the medication correctly, poor communication, lack of staff to patient ratio, fatigue from hard work, nurses' heavy workload, and working night shift. This quality improvement project provides a step-by-step protocol of setting up, administering IV medications, and monitoring the patient after. A combination of standardized practice, technology improvements, and targeted education is required to reduce errors. It is hoped that this quality improvement project will inform nurses on how to prevent and reduce IV medication errors by focusing on the factors that cause this problem.

 

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