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Medication study supports registered nurses’ competence for single checking
Author(s) -
Jarman Heather,
Jacobs Elly,
Zielinski Valerie
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-172x.2002.00387.x
Subject(s) - competence (human resources) , medicine , nursing , autonomy , protocol (science) , acute care , family medicine , health care , psychology , alternative medicine , social psychology , pathology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
In 1999, a review of medication policies and practices for The Geelong Hospital, a Victorian regional acute care hospital, was conducted under the leadership and direction of the Executive Nursing Director. The findings of the review suggested that a study be conducted to examine the safety of single‐person (registered nurse division 1) checking of a designated group of medications that had previously been double‐checked. The present study was conducted as a descriptive study in adult inpatient units and speciality and midwifery services of The Geelong Hospital, and included the monitoring of medication errors for the designated group of medications under a single‐person checking protocol for a 7‐month period. A similar number of medication errors were reported when compared with a similar time‐frame in which double‐person checking was standard practice. At the completion of the study, a convenience sample of 129 nurses from the participating units and services completed questionnaires. The majority of the nurses appreciated the increased autonomy the change to single‐person checking of medications provided. They also identified benefits for patients, including that they were able to be more responsive to patient needs.