In recent years, as many as one in ten patients have been harmed while in a healthcare setting, and as a result patient safety and quality in healthcare has become a rather serious and significant global health issue (World Health Organization, 2014). One aspect of healthcare which can have a serious effect on patients’ safety if not managed correctly is medication. One could argue that nurses are predominantly involved in the administration of medications to patients as seen in an article by Brady, Malone and Fleming (2009), and subsequently, are also responsible for ensuring that all necessary safety assessments have been followed and that the patient therefore receives the right type and dose of medication, given in the right route and at
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The medical dictionary (2017) has described this idiom as “the facilitation of safe and effective use of prescription and over the counter drugs”. Nurses have an enormous role in relation to the administration and safe storing of medications, which can result in patient harm if error occurs along the way. Therefore, it is important that every registered nurse is aware of the many rights of medication management, which can include the Right patient, the Right drug, the Right time, the Right dose, the Right route, the Right documentation and the Right response (Henry, Phillips and Traynor, 2014). The responsibilities of medication safety and management should also incorporate the standardised ADPIE system, which involves an initial assessment and also throughout, a diagnosis, patient centred planning, implementation and then an evaluation of the patient. As part of the overall individualised care of the patient, nurses and midwives may be required to entrust, supervise and educate the nursing and midwifery students. With this in mind, the primary motivation for the allocation of any aspect of medication management should always be established on attending the best interests and needs of the …show more content…
The role of the nurse and midwife in medication management and safety incorporates acknowledging the purpose and reason behind the patient’s treatment, supporting the safe administration of their medication, monitoring the effectiveness of the medicines given and being aware of the patient’s understanding and adherence. It should not solely be a systematic routine task, but one that ensures the patient receives the maximum benefit from the medication that they need while also minimising the potential harm it may cause. Medication safety is reliant on nurses and student nurses being fully aware of every aspect in relation to what they are giving to their patients. Administering medication requires the understanding of basic pharmacology and how the medication is to enter the body, such as orally or intravenously. It also requires the knowledge of the possible side effects and the contraindications of the medication, as well as the safe dosage range, precautions to take before administering, the suitable administration techniques and its toxicity risks. Training provided in relation to medication safety for
The medical dictionary (2017) has described this idiom as “the facilitation of safe and effective use of prescription and over the counter drugs”. Nurses have an enormous role in relation to the administration and safe storing of medications, which can result in patient harm if error occurs along the way. Therefore, it is important that every registered nurse is aware of the many rights of medication management, which can include the Right patient, the Right drug, the Right time, the Right dose, the Right route, the Right documentation and the Right response (Henry, Phillips and Traynor, 2014). The responsibilities of medication safety and management should also incorporate the standardised ADPIE system, which involves an initial assessment and also throughout, a diagnosis, patient centred planning, implementation and then an evaluation of the patient. As part of the overall individualised care of the patient, nurses and midwives may be required to entrust, supervise and educate the nursing and midwifery students. With this in mind, the primary motivation for the allocation of any aspect of medication management should always be established on attending the best interests and needs of the …show more content…
The role of the nurse and midwife in medication management and safety incorporates acknowledging the purpose and reason behind the patient’s treatment, supporting the safe administration of their medication, monitoring the effectiveness of the medicines given and being aware of the patient’s understanding and adherence. It should not solely be a systematic routine task, but one that ensures the patient receives the maximum benefit from the medication that they need while also minimising the potential harm it may cause. Medication safety is reliant on nurses and student nurses being fully aware of every aspect in relation to what they are giving to their patients. Administering medication requires the understanding of basic pharmacology and how the medication is to enter the body, such as orally or intravenously. It also requires the knowledge of the possible side effects and the contraindications of the medication, as well as the safe dosage range, precautions to take before administering, the suitable administration techniques and its toxicity risks. Training provided in relation to medication safety for