NURS 4580 2nd Peer Response for Module 1

Student Name

Lamar University

NURS 4580: Synthesis in Professional Nursing

Prof. Name

Date

Peer Response 2

Shanice Douglas

Shanice has articulated her perspective with clarity and relevance. Her depiction of the scenario successfully highlights the root cause of the medication error. I agree with Shanice’s observation that the nurse appeared rushed due to an impending shift change, which significantly disrupted effective communication and collaboration between the two nurses. This lapse ultimately led to a medication administration error.

Additionally, Shanice pointed out the lack of organizational policy regarding medication double-checking protocols. While the concept of double-checking is widely promoted in clinical settings, the effectiveness of this method remains a topic of discussion. For instance, research by Koyama et al. (2019) suggests that the correlation between double-checking practices and a reduction in medication errors is not consistently strong. This raises a valid question—how effective is double-checking as a standalone solution?

To enhance patient safety, I would also recommend improving staff coordination and reinforcing the use of electronic barcode scanning systems for patient identification and medication administration. These measures can help ensure greater accuracy, streamline workflow, and contribute to a reduction in preventable medication errors. Would you agree that technology-driven solutions, paired with well-defined policies, could significantly bolster safety and efficiency in clinical practice?

References

Koyama, A. K., Claire-Sophie Sheridan Maddox, Li, L., Bucknall, T., & Westbrook, J. I. (2019). Effectiveness of double checking to reduce medication administration errors: A systematic review. BMJ Quality & Safety, 29(7). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009552