Forensic Nursing Chronicles

I definitely think this is a drastic number and being on the front lines, I can see how this happens. Especially in today’s ever changing healthcare field. First, you have EMR which has completely changed our world. There have been so many changes recently that it is very hard to keep up with it all. Not only they way we chart things, but how we administer medications. Caremobile, the pt scanning device, is supposed to help catch errors. But with the Electronic charting, the charts and orders are not getting checked like they were because it is too difficult to do and navigate around. Not to mention that there are alot of issues with connectivity, timeliness of entering meds by pharmacy, etc. That by the time the med could be given, alot of unnecessary time has passed, so you may just do a work around to get the task accomplished which defeats the purpose of using Caremobile to begin with! Throw long hours, after hours "catch-up", high acuity, understaffing, and a whole slew of other issues that are dealt with daily, it is easy to see how these unfortunate things could take place. I definitely think that issues that are causing unnecessary deaths should take precedence over anything else. And fix what is the current problem before you add something else into the mix.

Original Post
March 29, 2010
Title: 200,000 Americans killed each year in hospitals by medical errors, comment
There is no simple answer to why medication errors occur. People die every year from preventable medical errors; wrong limbs are amputated, wrong organs removed, people receive the wrong medications, orders are incorrectly transcribed, medication reconciliation is often flawed, the list could go on forever. Errors are a result of human nature. While every effort is made to minimize and prevent errors, they still occur. Nursing education, annual and ongoing review of the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, time outs prior to surgical procedures, are all great ways to work to prevent errors from occurring. Responses to errors should not be punitive; they are situations from which we learn. Errors result because processes fail.

Original Post
March 4, 2010
Title: “200,000 Americans Killed Each Year in Hospitals by Medical Error”
Listed in the above are common causes of medication errors: lack of sleep in caregivers, poor communication, illegible handwriting, poor staffing. These problems are encountered in all areas of patient care. There are never enough nurses, nurses have too many patients, work too many hours, and in reality are often rushed . Home medications are often not reported accurately and many physicians (who are also often rushed) write poorly. Several of the 2010 National Patient Safety Goals focus on medication administration as a result of reported medication errors. How do we change this? Change begins with education. Nurses must continue to learn about new medications and review old ones, never hesitating to consult resources if unsure about any aspect of a medication. As the last line of defense between the patient and a medication error, nurses must be dedicated to practicing the 5 Rights and the nursing process as it relates to medication administration, providing thorough assessments and evaluations even when rushed. Patients must be educated as well, and taught to ask and know about their medications, to report untoward effects and to learn about lifestyle changes which could reduce or eliminate the need for some medications. As nurses, we must continue to promote better nurse to patient ratio in all areas of care. We must exhibit professional and safe medication administration in our own practice and in mentoring new nurses just beginning their profession. The amount of reported medication errors is a sobering fact which should incite a call to all nurses and facilities to performance improvement in this area.

Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Forensic Nursing Medication Errors, Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer, Forensic Medical Nursing Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

There is no simple answer to why medication errors occur. People die every year from preventable medical errors; wrong limbs are amputated, wrong organs removed, people receive the wrong medications, orders are incorrectly transcribed, medication reconciliation is often flawed, the list could go on forever. Errors are a result of human nature. While every effort is made to minimize and prevent errors, they still occur. Nursing education, annual and ongoing review of the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, time outs prior to surgical procedures, are all great ways to work to prevent errors from occurring. Responses to errors should not be punitive; they are situations from which we learn. Errors result because processes fail.

Original Post
March 4, 2010
Title: “200,000 Americans Killed Each Year in Hospitals by Medical Error”
Listed in the above are common causes of medication errors: lack of sleep in caregivers, poor communication, illegible handwriting, poor staffing. These problems are encountered in all areas of patient care. There are never enough nurses, nurses have too many patients, work too many hours, and in reality are often rushed . Home medications are often not reported accurately and many physicians (who are also often rushed) write poorly. Several of the 2010 National Patient Safety Goals focus on medication administration as a result of reported medication errors. How do we change this? Change begins with education. Nurses must continue to learn about new medications and review old ones, never hesitating to consult resources if unsure about any aspect of a medication. As the last line of defense between the patient and a medication error, nurses must be dedicated to practicing the 5 Rights and the nursing process as it relates to medication administration, providing thorough assessments and evaluations even when rushed. Patients must be educated as well, and taught to ask and know about their medications, to report untoward effects and to learn about lifestyle changes which could reduce or eliminate the need for some medications. As nurses, we must continue to promote better nurse to patient ratio in all areas of care. We must exhibit professional and safe medication administration in our own practice and in mentoring new nurses just beginning their profession. The amount of reported medication errors is a sobering fact which should incite a call to all nurses and facilities to performance improvement in this area.

Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Forensic Nursing Medication Errors, Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer, Forensic Medical Nursing Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Improving outcomes related to medications errors requires not only the nurse but the entire organization. Attitudes need to change about the acceptability of rushing. Healthcare is big business and rushing patients in and out of the hospital has become a culture imposed on nurses and doctors by the need for increased productivity. Doctors and nurses alike have been forced into boxes about how quickly they should operate. Now because there have been negative outcomes reported regulatory organizations are stepping in, resulting in more demands on clinicians. At some point everyone, including the institution, has to realize that there is no substitute to slowing down. The culture has to permit it and stop making so many demands at one time. Slower has to be good and an acceptable norm again. I know from my own experience that saying "wait I’m not keeping up" or "I need a break" is frown upon, which enables the "now and hurry up" culture in hospitals to continue to proliferate. No one is allowed to take their time anymore even if it would be better for everyone.

Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Forensic Nursing Medication Errors, Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Medication errors do occur due to poor staff, poor handwriting, and even lack of sleep, but the way nursing students are taught in nursing school is the real problem. Nursing schools are turning out "prima donnas" and not reliable hard working individuals. We "spoon feed" the new nurses instead of making them accountable.

Original Post
March 4, 2010
Title: “200,000 Americans Killed Each Year in Hospitals by Medical Error”
Listed in the above are common causes of medication errors: lack of sleep in caregivers, poor communication, illegible handwriting, poor staffing. These problems are encountered in all areas of patient care. There are never enough nurses, nurses have too many patients, work too many hours, and in reality are often rushed . Home medications are often not reported accurately and many physicians (who are also often rushed) write poorly. Several of the 2010 National Patient Safety Goals focus on medication administration as a result of reported medication errors. How do we change this? Change begins with education. Nurses must continue to learn about new medications and review old ones, never hesitating to consult resources if unsure about any aspect of a medication. As the last line of defense between the patient and a medication error, nurses must be dedicated to practicing the 5 Rights and the nursing process as it relates to medication administration, providing thorough assessments and evaluations even when rushed. Patients must be educated as well, and taught to ask and know about their medications, to report untoward effects and to learn about lifestyle changes which could reduce or eliminate the need for some medications. As nurses, we must continue to promote better nurse to patient ratio in all areas of care. We must exhibit professional and safe medication administration in our own practice and in mentoring new nurses just beginning their profession. The amount of reported medication errors is a sobering fact which should incite a call to all nurses and facilities to performance improvement in this area.

Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer

Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Forensic Nursing Medication Errors, Forensic Healthcare Medication Error Attorney Lawyer, Forensic Medical Nursing Medication Error Attorney Lawyer