Addressing an Information-Management Problem in Nursing: Developing a Database for Medication Errors

QUESTION

Instructions

As a nurse, Think about an information-management problem in your setting. You will use this problem as the foundation to build your database over the next eight weeks. Explain the problem in detail and support the need to solve the problem with scholarly literature (consider patient. nursing practice, management, or education situations). Think about a situation for which you wish to capture data over a long period of time and for which you want to study various relationships. Provide three questions that you would like to see answered via database support.

Example

In a database of patient falls for the entire hospital, you might ask the following questions:

• How many units had patient falls over the last year?
• On a specific unit with a high number of falls, what was the nurse/patient ratio at the time of each fall?
• Which patients on six specific units have fall-risk assessments?

Focus on the who, what, when, where, or how aspects of the problem you want to solve. Invite feedback from your peers on your questions and be prepared to provide them with feedback as well.

Also, start thinking about your main focus (entities) with your proposed database (for example, patient, unit, provide if/when appropriate).

ANSWER

Addressing an Information-Management Problem in Nursing: Developing a Database for Medication Errors

Introduction

Information management plays a vital role in healthcare settings, ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, and decision-making processes. This essay aims to highlight a significant problem in nursing practice related to medication errors and present the need for a database to address this issue effectively. By implementing a comprehensive database, healthcare professionals can gather long-term data and study various relationships to improve patient safety and quality of care.

Problem Description and Literature Support

Medication errors are a critical concern in healthcare, posing risks to patient safety and leading to adverse outcomes. These errors can occur at various stages, including prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medications. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States annually, making it a major healthcare challenge (Aspden et al., 2006).

The need for a solution to this problem is supported by scholarly literature emphasizing the significance of implementing effective medication error prevention strategies. Studies have shown that identifying the root causes and patterns of medication errors is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes (Cheragi et al., 2013; Leape et al., 1995). A database focusing on medication errors will facilitate data collection, analysis, and monitoring, enabling healthcare professionals to identify trends, evaluate interventions, and make informed decisions.

Three Questions for Database Support

1. What are the common types and causes of medication errors in our healthcare setting?
This question aims to identify the specific types of medication errors (e.g., wrong dosage, drug-drug interactions) and the underlying factors contributing to these errors (e.g., communication breakdown, lack of medication reconciliation). By capturing this information in the database, patterns and trends can be analyzed, leading to targeted interventions and improved medication safety protocols.

2. Which healthcare units or departments have the highest rates of medication errors?
This question focuses on identifying specific units or departments within the healthcare facility that experience a higher incidence of medication errors. By analyzing this data, healthcare leaders can allocate resources, implement targeted training programs, and develop unit-specific interventions to address medication safety concerns effectively.

3. How do the implementation of medication error reduction strategies and the use of technology impact patient outcomes?
This question aims to explore the effectiveness of various interventions, such as barcode medication administration systems or computerized physician order entry, in reducing medication errors and improving patient outcomes. By collecting data on the implementation of these strategies and technology usage, healthcare professionals can evaluate their impact on patient safety and make evidence-based decisions to enhance medication practices.

Main Focus (Entities) of the Proposed Database

The main focus of the database for addressing medication errors would include entities such as patients, healthcare units/departments, medications (including dosages and frequencies), healthcare professionals involved in medication administration, and timestamps capturing the occurrence of errors. These entities would enable comprehensive data collection and analysis to identify patterns, risk factors, and opportunities for improvement.

Conclusion

The development of a comprehensive database to address medication errors in nursing practice is crucial for enhancing patient safety and improving the quality of care. By collecting and analyzing long-term data, healthcare professionals can identify patterns, trends, and contributing factors to medication errors. This information will support the implementation of targeted interventions, evidence-based practices, and educational programs, ultimately leading to a reduction in medication errors and improved patient outcomes.