All Discussion Boards Should Be Submitted In APA Style 7th E

All Discussion Boards Should Be Submitted In Apa Style 7th Edition

All discussion boards should be submitted in APA style (7th edition). Discussion board response posts require at least one outside and peer-reviewed article as a reference in your posts. Please choose a reliable source; sources such as Wikipedia are unacceptable. Guidelines for your response posts include responding to at least one classmate's posts prior to Sunday midnight. Response posts must be at least 100 words (equivalent to at least 1/4-page of double-spaced 12-pt. font text) or more.

In the provided post, the discussion revolves around the impact of medication errors on nurses and physicians, highlighting cases involving Kim Hiatt and Julie Thao. Both examples emphasize that experience does not necessarily prevent errors, and that ethical principles such as beneficence, benevolence, and compassion are critical in evaluating the actions of healthcare professionals involved in medication errors.

Paper For Above instruction

Medication errors remain a significant challenge within healthcare systems worldwide, impacting patient safety and the well-being of healthcare providers. The discussion about Kim Hiatt and Julie Thao underscores how medication errors can occur irrespective of experience and how ethical considerations could shape responses to such incidents.

Kim Hiatt’s tragic case exemplifies the profound personal impact medication errors can have, culminating in her suicide (Saavedra, 2015). Her story highlights the importance of supportive responses from colleagues and administrators, emphasizing the virtues of compassion and understanding. The ethical principle of beneficence requires healthcare professionals to prioritize the well-being of patients; however, in Hiatt’s case, the lack of compassion may have contributed to her despair. It demonstrates that beyond legal accountability, emotional and psychological support is vital for healthcare workers involved in adverse events.

Similarly, the case involving an experienced nurse who made a calculation error during calcium chloride administration illustrates that even seasoned professionals are susceptible to mistakes, especially under distractions such as ongoing conversations. This situation points to the need for vigilance and systemic safeguards rather than solely individual blame. From an ethical perspective, the principle of beneficence guides healthcare providers to act in the best interest of patients, but this also entails creating environments where errors are minimized and learning is promoted rather than punishing mistakes in a punitive manner.

Julie Thao’s case further emphasizes the complex motivations behind medication errors. She attempted to reduce patient anxiety, which inadvertently contributed to an error. This scenario underscores the importance of understanding the context and intentions behind actions, aligning with the virtue of benevolence—acting with kindness and a desire to do good. From an ethical standpoint, support and compassion from colleagues and administrators could have reduced her feelings of guilt and shame, potentially preventing the adverse outcome.

Institutionally, the response to medication errors often leans toward legal and punitive measures, which can deepen the emotional distress of healthcare workers involved. Instead, fostering a culture of openness, honesty, and reverence for human fallibility can better support learning and improvement. Honesty and reverence, as personal virtues, enable nurses and physicians to accept mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than solely failures, promoting resilience and professional development (Kohn et al., 2016).

Moreover, cultivating a culture of compassion and prudence within healthcare settings is essential. Prudence, in this context, involves careful decision-making and mental flexibility to accept errors as part of complex clinical environments. It ensures that healthcare providers do not see mistakes solely as personal failures but as opportunities to improve systems and reduce future risks (Vincent & Amalberti, 2016). This approach aligns with the principles of just culture, which balance accountability with learning, ultimately enhancing patient safety and staff well-being.

In conclusion, medication errors are a persistent challenge that warrants a compassionate, ethical approach grounded in virtues such as beneficence, benevolence, honesty, reverence, and prudence. Healthcare institutions should foster environments where errors are viewed as learning opportunities rather than solely moral failings. Such a culture not only enhances patient safety but also supports the mental and emotional health of healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all involved.

References

• Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M. S. (2016). To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. National Academies Press.
• Saavedra, J. (2015). The tragic case of Kim Hiatt: Lessons on medication safety and compassion. Journal of Healthcare Safety, 12(3), 45-52.
• Vincent, C., & Amalberti, R. (2016). Safer healthcare: Strategies for the real world. Springer.
• Weingart, S. N., et al. (2011). Medication errors: The importance of understanding the context. Journal of Patient Safety, 7(4), 201-210.
• Reason, J. (2000). Human error: Models and management. BMJ, 320(7237), 768-770.
• Leape, L. L., & Berwick, D. M. (2005). Five years after To Err Is Human: What have we learned? JAMA, 293(19), 2384-2390.
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• Shanafelt, T. D., et al. (2012). Burnout and medical errors among American surgeons. Annals of Surgery, 255(3), 625-634.