Medication study supports registered nurses' competence for single checking.
In 1999, a review of medication policies and practices for The Geelong Hospital, a Victorian regional acute care hospital, was conducted under the leadership and direction of the Executive Nursing Director. The findings of the review suggested that a study be conducted to examine the safety of single-person (registered nurse division 1) checking of a designated group of medications that had previously been double-checked. The present study was conducted as a descriptive study in adult inpatient units and speciality and midwifery services of The Geelong Hospital, and included the monitoring of medication errors for the designated group of medications under a single-person checking protocol for a 7-month period. A similar number of medication errors were reported when compared with a similar time-frame in which double-person checking was standard practice. At the completion of the study, a convenience sample of 129 nurses from the participating units and services completed questionnaires. The majority of the nurses appreciated the increased autonomy the change to single-person checking of medications provided. They also identified benefits for patients, including that they were able to be more responsive to patient needs.
Jarman
Heather
H
Contemporary Nursing Practice, School of Nursing, Deakin University/Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. hfj@deakin.edu.au
Jacobs
Elly
E
Zielinski
Valerie
V
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria