By Michelle Colleran Cook Show Below, is testimony provided by MNA Member Michelle Colleran Cook on behalf of the MNA Congress on Nursing Practice at a hearing before the Joint Committee on Health Care, which concerned the issue of prevention of medication errors in health care settings. My name is Michelle Colleran Cook. I am employed per diem in the Recovery Room of a Boston teaching hospital. I am also an instructor in a LPN School of Nursing and will graduate from Regis College with a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration in May 1999. Recently, there have been national and local incidences of nurse errors in medication administration that have resulted in negative patient outcomes. Nurses, because they administer the drugs directly to patients, are the last links in the safe medication administration chain. Complicating matters is the increased acuity of the patients they serve, and the decrease in the resources available to nurses to ensure safe practice. Because of the climate of health care today, nurses need to become cognizant of their practice’s vulnerability and vigilant about protecting their practice. All nurses have been taught the five rights of medication administration. They were drilled into our conscious in nursing school until they became part of our unconscious behavior as practicing nurses. The right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route and the right time form the foundation from which nurses practice safely when administrating medications to our patients in all health care settings. Just as nurses know the five rights of medication administration, they should also know what rights they have when administering medications. These "Six Rights for Nurses Administering Medications" will hopefully guide nurses as they continue to care for patients despite these turbulent times.
What should a nurse check before administering medication?The nurse must confirm the patient's identification matches the medication administration record (MAR) and medication label prior to administration to ensure that the medication is being given to the correct patient.
What are the nurses responsibility in drug administration?Nurses are primarily involved in the administration of medications across settings. Nurses can also be involved in both the dispensing and preparation of medications (in a similar role to pharmacists), such as crushing pills and drawing up a measured amount for injections.
What is the proper way to identify a patient before administering a medication?Patient identifier options include:. Assigned identification number (e.g., medical record number). Date of birth.. Phone number.. Social security number.. Address.. Photo.. What is the purpose for assessing a patient before drug administration?Assess the patient prior to administering medications to ensure the patient is receiving the correct medication, for the correct reason, and at the correct time.
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