During your practicum, determine what clinical problem or issue the organization is facing. Discuss two implications for nursing.

During my practicum, I identified the clinical problem of medication errors in the organization I was working with. Medication errors are a significant problem in healthcare, with potentially severe consequences for patients, healthcare providers, and healthcare facilities. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication process, including prescribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring. The impact of medication errors can range from minor inconvenience to severe harm, including death.

One implication for nursing is that medication errors can result in decreased patient trust in healthcare providers and healthcare facilities. Patients rely on healthcare providers to provide safe and effective care, and medication errors can shatter that trust. It is the responsibility of nurses to ensure that patients are receiving the correct medication, in the correct dose, at the correct time. When medication errors occur, nurses must take steps to rebuild patient trust and confidence.

Another implication for nursing is the potential for medication errors to result in legal action. Nurses have a duty of care to their patients, and medication errors can be viewed as a breach of that duty. In some cases, patients or their families may choose to pursue legal action against healthcare providers or healthcare facilities. Nurses must ensure that they are following all policies and procedures related to medication administration to minimize the risk of medication errors and potential legal action.

In conclusion, medication errors are a significant clinical problem with far-reaching implications for nursing. Nurses must take steps to ensure that medication errors are minimized, patient trust is maintained, and legal action is avoided. By working to reduce medication errors, nurses can help to improve patient outcomes and promote safe and effective healthcare.

References

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2015). Joint statement on delegation. https://www.ncsbn.org/Delegation_joint_statement_NCSBN_National_Council_Final.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Health information privacy. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/index.html