The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit organization, which both accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs throughout the United States. In 2002, the committee established a set of goals known as the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) program. The development of the NPSGs began with a panel of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, risk managers, clinical engineers and other professionals with adequate experience in the world of patient safety (“Facts about NPSGs”, 2015). This group of healthcare professionals collectively became the Patient Safety Advisory Group. Together, they worked with the Joint Commission to identify issues in patient safety and propose ideas on how to address them. Rooted to drive accredited organizations toward improvement in specific areas of patient safety, the first list of NPSGs became effective as of January 1, 2003 (“Facts about NPSGs”, 2015). One patient safety goal that is a crucial component of the NPSGs is NPSG.03.04.01: Use medicines safely. The focus is to “Before a procedure, label medicines that are not labeled. For example, medicines in syringes, cups and basins. Do this in the area where medicines and supplies are set up” (“Hospital”, 2016). By accurately labeling medications in a designated area before medication administration, healthcare providers can substantially reduce the risk of incidental medication errors. In the article, Pediatric Emergency Nurses ' Self-Reported Medication Safety Practices, Jennifer L. Mattei, analyzes a study that was conducted in two affiliated pediatric EDs in the Midwest U.S. The first site was a level I trauma center located in an urban area and the second site was an independent ED in a highly populated suburban area; together the two provide emergency care to approximately 132,000 patients per year (Mattei, 2013). The study was administered through a cross-sectional survey design where participants completed an anonymous survey to help identify nurses’ understanding, implementation, and barriers in adhering to the NPSGs. The descriptive survey was composed of two main research questions: What were the barriers to emergency nurses following the NPSGs?
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Have recent medication safety changes in the emergency department had an impact on nurses ' medication safety practices? (Mattei, 2013). Data showed that 75% of nurses reported at least one barrier in taking their medication orders to the storage or preparation area when preparing their medications. However, 92.5% of nurses also reported making a change in their practice within the past 6-24 months in an effort to improve medication safety (Mattei, 2013). According to the data collected, changes in practice included “barcode scanning medications and intravenous fluids (92.6%), barcode scanning patient wristbands (91.6%), labeling medications (61.8%), using prefilled single dose medication syringes (80.9%), using an easy form for safety reporting (58.8%), and making a personal commitment to safety/culture change (61.8%)” (Mattei, 2013). Due to the widespread range of patient needs in the ED and the unpredictable nature of the setting, nurses are more likely to make medication errors. Nonetheless, by making the prevention of medication errors a priority in their practice, nurses can limit causes of medication errors such as “unclear directions, incomplete orders, lack of resources or information, similar drug packaging, drug names that sound alike, nurse fatigue and nurse interruptions” (Richardson, Bromirski, & Hayden, 2012). Recognizing the fact that there is a high frequency of medication preparation in the ED can put pediatric patients at a serious risk for medication errors. Thus,
Have recent medication safety changes in the emergency department had an impact on nurses ' medication safety practices? (Mattei, 2013). Data showed that 75% of nurses reported at least one barrier in taking their medication orders to the storage or preparation area when preparing their medications. However, 92.5% of nurses also reported making a change in their practice within the past 6-24 months in an effort to improve medication safety (Mattei, 2013). According to the data collected, changes in practice included “barcode scanning medications and intravenous fluids (92.6%), barcode scanning patient wristbands (91.6%), labeling medications (61.8%), using prefilled single dose medication syringes (80.9%), using an easy form for safety reporting (58.8%), and making a personal commitment to safety/culture change (61.8%)” (Mattei, 2013). Due to the widespread range of patient needs in the ED and the unpredictable nature of the setting, nurses are more likely to make medication errors. Nonetheless, by making the prevention of medication errors a priority in their practice, nurses can limit causes of medication errors such as “unclear directions, incomplete orders, lack of resources or information, similar drug packaging, drug names that sound alike, nurse fatigue and nurse interruptions” (Richardson, Bromirski, & Hayden, 2012). Recognizing the fact that there is a high frequency of medication preparation in the ED can put pediatric patients at a serious risk for medication errors. Thus,