Rough Draft Quantitative Research Courtney Taylor Grand Cany

Rough Draft Quantitative Researchcourtney Taylorgrand Canyon Universit

Identify the core assignment question: Develop a research-supported nursing intervention with measurable outcomes related to medication safety during administration in an acute care setting. The research should include a clear PICO question and relevant literature that supports the intervention and outcomes. Focus on best practice recommendations for medication administration systems to reduce errors and promote patient safety.

Paper For Above instruction

In the complex environment of acute care settings, medication administration remains a critical point for patient safety and quality of care. Despite technological advances and system improvements, medication errors continue to present significant risks, causing harm to millions of patients annually. As nurses are central to medication protocols, developing evidence-based interventions to minimize these errors is essential. This paper proposes a targeted nursing intervention—implementation of standardized electronic medication administration records (eMAR)—aimed at reducing medication errors and enhancing patient safety. The intervention's efficacy will be supported by a comprehensive review of recent empirical literature, highlighting best practice recommendations grounded in current research.

Formulating an appropriate PICO question is essential as it guides the intervention and supports the research framework. The specific PICOT question here is: Among nurses administering medications in an acute care setting (Population), does the utilization of a standardized electronic medication administration record system (Intervention), compared to traditional paper-based systems (Comparison), reduce medication errors (Outcome) over a three-month period (Time)? This question aims to assess the impact of technological standardization on medication safety, emphasizing nurse workflow, error reporting accuracy, and patient outcomes.

Literature review indicates that medication errors are prevalent during various phases, notably during prescribing, transcribing, and administration. Elden and Ismail (2016) identified that medication errors frequently occur during the ordering and administration stages, often leading to preventable adverse events. Their study demonstrates that policy reinforcement and staff re-education markedly decrease medication errors, with errors reducing from 6.7% to 3.6% post-intervention. This suggests that systematic approaches, such as standardized procedures, can significantly improve safety outcomes. Moreover, the integration of electronic medication administration systems streamlines workflow, minimizes transcription errors, and provides real-time documentation, contributing to error reduction.

Similarly, McLeod, Barber, and Franklin (n.d.) conducted a mixed-methods ethnographic study evaluating medication administration practices across different hospital units. Their findings emphasize that interruptions, distractions, and system inefficiencies greatly influence error rates. They found that medication administration errors occurred at a rate of 2.7% for non-IV medications and 30.8% for IV meds, with errors often linked to environmental and workflow interruptions. Their recommendation underscores supporting nurses with structured workflows and managing interruptions to mitigate errors, aligning well with the intervention proposal of electronic systems designed to minimize manual steps and distractions.

The proposed intervention—standardized eMAR—addresses these issues by providing clear, legible, and accessible medication administration documentation, reducing transcription and calculation errors. Additionally, electronic systems often include checks for allergies, interactions, and dosage limits, further enhancing safety. Studies have shown that employment of electronic medication systems correlates with a significant decrease in medication errors, promoting more accurate, timely, and complete documentation (Blenkinsopp et al., 2012). Moreover, electronic systems facilitate data collection and reporting, supporting ongoing quality improvement initiatives.

One crucial aspect of implementing eMAR involves staff training and workflow integration. According to our literature review, successful adoption hinges on comprehensive training programs, administrative support, and ongoing monitoring. Elden and Ismail (2016) underscored that re-education and policy reinforcement can drastically reduce errors. Similarly, addressing potential barriers such as glitches, user resistance, and workflow disruptions is vital for sustainability (Koppel et al., 2008). Proper change management strategies and involving frontline nurses in system design can enhance acceptance and effectiveness of electronic systems.

Expected outcomes of this intervention include a measurable decrease in medication error rates, improved accuracy in documentation, and enhanced patient safety metrics. Moreover, nurses will benefit from streamlined workflows, reduced cognitive load, and increased confidence in medication administration processes. Data collection pre- and post-implementation will allow for assessment of error rates, documentation completeness, and staff perceptions through surveys and incident reports — providing a robust measure of intervention impact over time.

In conclusion, implementing standardized electronic medication administration records in acute care settings represents a promising nursing intervention supported by empirical evidence. By integrating current best practices—such as system automation, staff training, and error reporting—we can significantly reduce medication errors and promote a culture of safety. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and barriers faced during implementation. Ultimately, leveraging technology in conjunction with comprehensive staff education validates an effective strategy for improving medication safety standards and patient outcomes.

References

• Blenkinsopp, A., Sampson, M., Pervin, K., & O'Riordan, J. (2012). Medication administration errors in hospitals: A review of recent literature. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 74(3), 404–418.
• Elden, N. M. K., & Ismail, A. (2016). The importance of medication errors reporting in improving clinical care. Journal of Healthcare Quality Research, 31(4), 295–301.
• Koppel, R., Wetterneck, T., Telles, J. L., & Karsh, B. T. (2008). Role of computerized physician order entry systems in medication errors. JAMA, 299(18), 2112–2114.
• McLeod, M., Barber, N., & Franklin, B. D. (n.d.). Facilitators and barriers to safe medication administration to hospital inpatients: A mixed methods study of nurses' medication administration processes and systems (the MAPS study). BMC Health Services Research, 20, 1234.
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• World Health Organization. (2017). Medication safety challenges. WHO Publications.
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