Browsing by Subject "Medication use processes"

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Medication-related information needs of point of care registered nurses during patient transfer
(2019-08-14) Schlegel, Cara Sue; Yoder, Linda H.; Bakken, Suzanne; Carter, Patricia; Jones, Terry L.; Radhakrishnan, Kavita
Medication errors are a major concern for the U.S. healthcare system with between 380,000 and 450,000 preventable adverse drug events in hospitals each year. Because half the medication errors occur at admission, transfer, or discharge, The Joint Commission requires collection of a medication history and performing medication reconciliation. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of registered nurses’ (RNs) information needs during medication processes throughout the patient intrahospital transfer process. The following research questions were examined: what are RNs’ perceptions of information needs while performing medication management throughout the patient intrahospital transfer process, what are the perceived facilitators and barriers to resolving RNs’ information needs while performing medication management throughout the patient intrahospital transfer process, and do perceived RN information needs affect resulting communication and decision-making while performing medication management throughout the patient intrahospital transfer process? A qualitative descriptive study design using content analysis methodology was implemented. Ten RNs participated in the study. Semi-structured interview questions focused on the components of medication use processes: obtaining a patient’s medication history, medication reconciliation, and administering the first dose of a medication order following a patient’s intrahospital transfer. Four themes and seven sub-themes emerged from the interviews. RNs have clinical knowledge and patient information needs during medication use processes,. Registered nurses also said trust was an important element when collecting a patient’s current medication list. Furthermore, colleagues were used as an information source to resolve information needs, depending on the colleague’s experience. There are facilitators and barriers to resolving information needs, such as the patient and electronic health record. An additional facilitator was the importance of assigning task responsibility in the processes. Information needs affected nurses’ decision-making abilities with respect to determining completion of patients’ current medication lists and determining the appropriateness of holding specific doses of medication. Finally, RNs shared experiences where communication served as potentially dangerous workarounds to resolving information needs.