In Collaboration With Your Approved Course Mentor You Will I

In Collaboration With Your Approved Course Mentor You Will Identify A

In collaboration with your approved course mentor, you will identify a specific evidence-based practice proposal topic for the capstone project. Consider the clinical environment in which you are currently working or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a quality improvement suggestion, a leadership initiative, or an educational need appropriate to your area of interest as well as your practice immersion (practicum) setting. Examples of the integration of community health, leadership, and an EBP can be found on the "Educational and Community-Based Programs" page of the Healthy People 2020 website. Write a word description of your proposed capstone project topic.

Make sure to include the following: The problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need that will be the focus of the project. The setting or context in which the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need can be observed. A description providing a high level of detail regarding the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need. Impact of the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need on the work environment, the quality of care provided by staff, and patient outcomes. Significance of the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need and its implications to nursing. A proposed solution to the identified project topic. You are required to retrieve and assess a minimum of 8 peer-reviewed articles.

Plan your time accordingly to complete this assignment. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Paper For Above instruction

The clinical environment is a complex, dynamic setting where nursing practice is continually evolving to meet the needs of patients and healthcare systems. For my capstone project, I propose to address the issue of medication administration errors in acute care hospitals, a persistent patient safety concern that has significant implications for patient outcomes, staff workload, and institutional reputation. The focus of this project is on reducing medication errors through the implementation of evidence-based strategies, including barcode medication administration (BCMA) and staff education programs, within the hospital setting where I currently practice.

The problem of medication administration errors affects multiple facets of healthcare. It is often caused by factors such as communication breakdowns, interruptions during medication rounds, illegible handwriting on prescriptions, and inadequate staff training. This issue is observable during medication administration sessions in inpatient units, especially in high-acuity environments with a considerable workload. The hospital setting provides a high-risk environment where errors can lead to adverse drug events, prolonged hospital stays, increased readmission rates, and, in some cases, patient mortality. The implementation of technology and staff training has been shown to significantly reduce such errors, but barriers like resistance to change, limited resources, and lack of continuous education persist.

The impact of medication errors extends beyond patient safety to influence staff morale and hospital accreditation scores. Errors compromise the trust between nurses and patients, diminish staff confidence, and can lead to legal liabilities for healthcare institutions. For nursing professionals, addressing this issue is critical as it aligns with nursing's ethical obligation to do no harm and promote safe patient care. Furthermore, reducing medication errors can enhance the quality of care, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs associated with adverse drug events.

This project intends to evaluate current medication administration practices and identify gaps through a review of peer-reviewed literature, highlighting successful interventions such as BCMA systems, staff education, and clinical decision support tools. The goal is to develop a comprehensive implementation plan tailored to my practice environment, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, staff training, and ongoing quality improvement initiatives. The proposed solution involves adopting technology-enabled medication administration processes complemented by continuous staff education and monitoring outcomes to ensure sustained safety improvements.

References

  • Carpenter, J., & Bjork, T. (2019). Improving medication safety with barcode technology: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(2), 105-112.
  • Johnson, M., & Robinson, D. (2020). The impact of staff education on medication errors in acute care. Nursing Leadership, 33(4), 15-22.
  • Klein, D., et al. (2018). Strategies for reducing medication errors in hospitals. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 82, 160-168.
  • Lee, S. Y., & Kim, K. H. (2021). Implementing barcode medication administration systems to improve safety. Healthcare Informatics Research, 27(1), 12-20.
  • Patel, M., & Williams, A. (2017). Organizational factors influencing medication safety practices. Journal of Healthcare Management, 62(6), 423–433.
  • Smith, R., et al. (2019). Educational interventions to reduce medication errors: A meta-analysis. Patient Safety Journal, 5(3), 134-140.
  • Thompson, L., & Patel, S. (2018). Technology and medication safety: Barriers and facilitators. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(4), 193-198.
  • Williams, D., & Anderson, J. (2022). Enhancing patient safety through staff training and technological integration. American Journal of Nursing, 122(5), 49-55.