Hospital Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hospital Scenario - Essay Example This happened wrong-patient-wrong-medication happened because I did not ensure the Five Rights, which are the right medication, the right dose, the right patient, the right route and the right time. I did not check the patient’s identity and double-check her medications. I became too complacent and did not verify the patient’s name, date of birth, allergies, a unit record number and ID arm-band with the date on the patient’s medication chart (Crisp & Taylor, 2005). I also failed to inform the patient of the name of the medication that the doctor gave her. I was too preoccupied at the right time she should take the medicine that I lost track of the right medication for the patient. I also did not ensure the right procedure of preparing a medication. I missed comparing the label of the medication with the prescription on the medication chart when getting the Daonil tablets. I even forgot to wash my hands prior to the preparation of the medication. In addition, I sh ould have checked Miss Irwin’s medication chart as soon as the patient requested to have her Daonil tablets because patients are usually familiar with their medication (Galbraith, Bullock & Manias, 2003). Although at this point, I should have checked with the doctor because the patient is asking for a different medication from the one on the medication chart.  To understand the situation better, I need to know how to manage and prevent mistakes in giving the right medication for the right patient at the right time.... In addition, I should have checked Miss Irwin's medication chart as soon as the patient requested to have her Daonil tablets because patients are usually familiar with their medication (Galbraith, Bullock & Manias, 2003). Although at this point, I should have checked with the doctor because the patient is asking for a different medication from the one on the medication chart. What information do I need in order to understand the situation better Why is this information relevant and to whom (collect and analyse relevant data) To understand the situation better, I need to know how to manage and prevent mistakes in giving the right medication for the right patient at the right time. First, the five rights is the most important way to prevent mistakes in giving medication since medication errors tend to occur when a nurse pays little attention to the five rights (Dennison, 2005; O'Shea, 1999). Right patient: Always check the patient's identity, such as the patient's name, date of birth, allergies, unit record number and ID arm-band comparing this with the data on the patient's medication chart (Galbraith, Bullock & Manias, 2003; Ignatavicius, 2000). Right drug: Double-check the label and the right dosage of medication and any particular order in the medication; compare this with the data on the medication chart. Inform the patient of the name of the medication and should the doctor fail to explain why this is given to her, the attending nurse should be ready and able to give details as to why this is given. This gives a patient a chance to prevent or inform the nurse about a possible medication error. A nurse should also have enough information on medications, such as the effect, adverse reactions