Date of Graduation
Fall 12-16-2016
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Elena Capella
Second Advisor
Reham Maswadeh
Abstract
Educating Medication Aides About Five Rights of Medication Administration Abstract
The objective is resident safety in an assisted living facility with 20 residents; 18 staff members. After discussion with manager (an RN), and observation of aides passing meds, a focus on education of the 5 rights of medication administration was decided on.
Step one was doing pre survey of the aides, observing aides passing meds (3 week time frame), and identifying weaknesses. Step two consisted of identifying and talking about various possible safe med problems with staff, and taking steps to remove these potential barriers. Step three was to experiment with using pillboxes for three residents. I wrote a SWOT analysis to look at microsystem’s strengths, weaknesses. The importance of reporting medication errors was taught. The facility does not track medication errors and has no data.
At staff meeting a fishbone diagram was done on chalkboard to illustrate potential weaknesses that can cause medication errors, the 5 rights were discussed, and a video shown. In the pre-survey, 5 out of 9 of the medication aides answered incorrectly in listing all of the 5 rights, and this supported the need for further education on the five rights. Post-survey of 6 rights showed 8 out of 9 medication aides responded 100% correctly.
SAFE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AND MEDICATION ERRORS PRE-SURVEY
This survey asks for your opinions on medication administration and reporting of medication errors. All surveys/opinions are confidential and will not be shared.
A medication error is defined as any type of error, accident, or mistake, regardless of whether or not it results in patient harm.
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1) Can you list the 5 rights of medication administration?
2) What do you do when you make a medication error?
a) I always report the error
b) I report the error only if I consider the error very serious
c) I never report the error
d) I report the error if the error is not too serious
3) I initiate an incident report when I make an error.
a) Strongly disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly agree
4) During my nursing/medication aide career, I failed to report one or more medication errors because I thought reporting an error might be personally or professionally damaging. Y / N
5) A good way to understand why errors occur is through analysis of information collected from incident reports. Y / N
6) I document the administration of medications on the MAR: (Please select one answer)
a) Before administration
b) During administration
c) After administration
d) I don’t like documenting
7) Reporting medication errors is very essential to track medication errors and to improve safe medication administration. Y /N
8) When it comes to medication errors which answer is correct?
a) The nurse/medication aide will be punished
b) The mistake should be viewed as an opportunity to learn why the error occurred and how to prevent similar errors that others may make in the future.
c) Mistakes happen and are not very important
d) Mistakes are not allowed in healthcare.
9) I always double-check to be sure I am giving the correct medications to the correct patient.
a) Yes, always
b) No, never
c) Yes, usually
d) No, usually
10) I consider the job of giving medications at the prescribed time to be: (choose best answer)
a) Important
b) Sometimes important
c) The prescribed time is flexible
d) All of the above
11) I give medications based on the correct room number, and not on the identification of the patient. Y / N
12) In the space below, please rank your personal satisfaction with your job as a medication aide, with #1 being most satisfied, and # 5 being least satisfied:
1) _____ 2) _____ 3) _____ 4) _____ 5) _____
SAFE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AND MEDICATION ERROR POST-SURVEY
This survey asks for your opinions on medication administration and reporting of medication errors. All surveys/opinions are confidential and will not be shared.
A medication error is defined as any type of error, accident, or mistake, regardless of whether or not it results in patient harm.
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1) The six rights of drug administration does not include the right:
a) dose.
b) person.
c) concentration.
d) documentation.
e) route.
2) A patient is to receive 12.5 mg of prednisone by mouth daily. The medication is available in 5mg tablets. How many tablets are needed?
a) 3 tablets
b) 2.5 tablets
c) 2 tablets
d) 1.5 tablets
3) What does it mean when a medication is PRN?
a) It is to be given immediately
b) It is to be given once a day
c) It is to be given only with meals
d) It is given as needed
4) I initiate an incident report when I make an error.
a) Strongly disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly agree
5) A good way to understand why errors occur is through analysis of information collected from incident reports. Y / N
6) I document the administration of medications on the MAR: (Please select one answer)
a) Before administration
b) During administration
c) After administration
d) I don’t like documenting
7) When measuring the liquid medicine, always be sure to look at it at eye level. With dosing cups, measure on a flat surface and not while holding in one hand. Y / N
8) You need to know all of the following information prior to administering
the medication except:
a. The medication's usual dose
b. Potential side effects
c. Pharmacy name
d. Medication's use
9) I always double-check to be sure I am giving the correct medications to the correct patient.
a) Yes, always
b) No, never
c) Yes, usually
d) No, usually
10) Most common types of errors are:
a) Administering improper drug b) Giving the wrong drug c) Using wrong route
d) All of above.
11) I give medications based on the correct room number, and not on the identification of the patient. Y / N
12) The abbreviation Q.D. (daily) is often mistaken for Q.I.D. (four times daily). Y / N
Recommended Citation
fuller, derya, "Educating medication aides about safe medication administration" (2016). Master's Projects and Capstones. 431.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/431
