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Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Williams, T; King, MW; Thompson, JA; Champagne, MT
Published in: The American journal of nursing
November 2014

While preparing medications in complex health care environments, nurses are frequently distracted or interrupted, which can lead to medication errors that may adversely affect patient outcomes. This pilot quality improvement project, which took place in a 32-bed surgical progressive care unit in an academic medical center, implemented five medication safety interventions designed to decrease distractions and interruptions during medication preparation: nursing staff education, use of a medication safety vest, delineation of a no-interruption zone, signage, and a card instructing nurses how to respond to interruptions. Four types of distractions and interruptions decreased significantly between the two-month preimplementation and two-month postimplementation periods: those caused by a physician, NP, or physician assistant; those caused by other personnel; phone calls and pages placed or received by the nurse during medication administration; and conversation unrelated to medication administration that involved the nurse or loud nearby conversation that distracted the nurse. The total number of reported adverse drug events also decreased from 10 to four, or by 60%. Thus, medication safety interventions may help decrease distractions and interruptions in high-acuity settings.

Duke Scholars

Published In

The American journal of nursing

DOI

EISSN

1538-7488

ISSN

0002-936X

Publication Date

November 2014

Volume

114

Issue

11

Start / End Page

53 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Safety Management
  • Quality Improvement
  • Program Evaluation
  • Program Development
  • Pilot Projects
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital
  • Nursing
  • Medication Errors
  • Inservice Training
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Williams, T., King, M. W., Thompson, J. A., & Champagne, M. T. (2014). Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit. The American Journal of Nursing, 114(11), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000456433.07343.7f
Williams, Tyeasha, Melissa W. King, Julie A. Thompson, and Mary T. Champagne. “Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit.The American Journal of Nursing 114, no. 11 (November 2014): 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000456433.07343.7f.
Williams T, King MW, Thompson JA, Champagne MT. Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit. The American journal of nursing. 2014 Nov;114(11):53–62.
Williams, Tyeasha, et al. “Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit.The American Journal of Nursing, vol. 114, no. 11, Nov. 2014, pp. 53–62. Epmc, doi:10.1097/01.naj.0000456433.07343.7f.
Williams T, King MW, Thompson JA, Champagne MT. Implementing evidence-based medication safety interventions on a progressive care unit. The American journal of nursing. 2014 Nov;114(11):53–62.

Published In

The American journal of nursing

DOI

EISSN

1538-7488

ISSN

0002-936X

Publication Date

November 2014

Volume

114

Issue

11

Start / End Page

53 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Safety Management
  • Quality Improvement
  • Program Evaluation
  • Program Development
  • Pilot Projects
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital
  • Nursing
  • Medication Errors
  • Inservice Training