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
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Suzi White, MSN, PHCNS-BC
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.
Included in
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.