Publication Date
2025
College
Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
Department
Nursing, School of
Faculty Advisor
Linda Wofford
SPARK Session
10:15-11:45 Nurse as Leader: Knowledge
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
Medication errors are a prevalent safety concern in all healthcare settings, but these issues occur in skilled nursing facilities at the highest rates. They contribute to adverse patient outcomes, increase hospitalizations, and cause prolonged hospital stays, all of which can create extremely high costs. Medication errors can occur in many ways, including incorrect dosages, administration of the wrong medication, and timing errors. Inadequate communication, understaffing, and overworked nurses are some factors that contribute to mistakes in medication administration. An urgent need exists for evidence-based strategies and leadership interventions to improve patient safety and minimize risks related to medication errors. The nurse is the last step between the medication error and the patient. The intervention proposed is for the facility to host quarterly education sessions pertaining to medication administration policies and procedures. The first session will occur in person to review the unit’s current medication administration policies, including processes like barcode scanning, patient identity verification, and the three checks and five rights of medication administration. At the end of these education sessions, nurses will “checkoff” on at least one form of medication administration with their supervisor monitoring. The intervention will be evaluated by comparing the amount of medication errors that occurred one month prior to the training and one month following the training. This intervention will allow skilled nursing facilities to experience fewer medication errors which in turn would increase patient satisfaction, lead to better patient outcomes, and elevate the quality of care provided in skilled nursing facilities.
Recommended Citation
Lydon, Casey E.; Stromsland, Brooke D.; Hill, Courtney N.; and Elder, Emma A., "Medication Errors and Prevention" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 351.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/351
distribution_agreement Casey.pdf (89 kB)
distribution_agreement Courtney.pdf (85 kB)
distribution_agreement Courtney.pdf (85 kB)
