Department The Five Rights of Medication Administrations Role in
of
Nursing
Introduction
Nurses are charged with the responsibility to
administer medications to patients.
Unfortunately, medications are occasionally
not administered correctly by nurses. These
mistakes have resulted in harm or even in
death of patients. To decrease medication
errors it is recommended that nurse strictly
adhere to the five rights of medication
administration. Namely: right patient, right
dose, right time, right route and right drug.
Hypothesis: Medication errors will decrease
if nurses follow the five rights of medication
administration.
Background &
Significance
In studies conducted on medication
administration it was found that:
Nurses verified the right medication 98.6%
of the time, the correct amount of
medication on the vial 45.6% of the time,
the right patient 6.5% of the time by
reading the name on their wristband,
however, only 3.4% of nurses asked for the
patient to confirm his or her name
In total, 2314 medication administrations to
73 patients were observed: 509 errors were
recorded (22.0%)68 (13.4%) in
preparation and 441 (86.6%) in
administration.
Each year at least 7000 patients die from
drug administration complications.
Reducing Medication Errors
Jacob Ewell, BSN Candidate Brigham Young University-Idaho
Methods/Research Design
Study Type The study used a quasi-
experimental quantitative design.
Research Population
Four Kaiser Hospitals in Southern California.
Methods and Measurements
First a pretest was conducted to determine
the number of medication errors made in
each hospital. https://www.google.com/search?q=five+rights+of+medication+administration&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9x6PpgIPVAhWOY1AKHdU7CYwQ_AUICigB
&biw=1366&bih=662#tbm=isch&q=medication+administration&imgrc=c7SHUwBGEtTndM:
Five rights of medication administration
computerized checklist implemented into Literature Review
normal medication administration.
Post testing statistics taken to evaluate In the article, A multi-disciplinary approach Patient-nurse time increased allowing
to medication safety and the implication for
effectiveness of five rights computerized
checklist. nursing education and practice. The
article concludes that although the five
rights of medication administration
decrease medication errors, the errors may
be caused by nurses lack of education in
pharmacology.
The article Impact of faculty development
sessions to increase faculty competency
with supervision of medication
administration in an associate degree
program. Explained the importance of
educating students while still in school
about the need to adhere to good
medication administration practice.
Implications
Nursing Knowledge
When five rights are communicated
medication errors decrease.
Multistep processes can decrease
medication errors.
https://www.google.com/search?q=five+rights+of+medication+administration&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj
9x6PpgIPVAhWOY1AKHdU7CYwQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662#imgrc=sbe2_UgSNQ17VM:
Nursing Theory
The Kurt Lewin Change Theory used as
the basis for the study.
The study followed the unfreeze or
forgetting bad medication administration
technique, changing the way medication
was administered and refreezing or
solidify the new method for medication
administration.
Nursing Practice
Medication administration takes more
time then expected.
better communication.
Recommendations
The study's population size could be
expanded to a national scale.
Five rights of medication
administration may not be the only
answer to stopping medication errors.
CNAs, LPNs and other aides could be
used to allow nurse to focus their time
on medication administration.
References
Adhikari, R., Tocher, J., Smith, P., Corcoran, J., & MacArthur, J. (2014). A multi-disciplinary
approach to medication safety and the implication for nursing education and practice.
Nurse Education Today, 34(Patient Safety), 185-190. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2013.10.008
Kim, J. and Bates, D. W. (2013), Medication administration errors by nurses: adherence to
guidelines. J Clin Nurs, 22: 590598. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1111/j.1365-
2702.2012.04344.x/full
NCCMERP, USA (2010) About Medical Errors. Retrieved from: http://www.ncc-
merp.org/aboutMedErrors.html
Perry, N. N., & Koharchik, L. S. (2014). Impact of faculty development sessions to increase
faculty competency with supervision of medication administration in an associate degree
program. Teaching And Learning In Nursing, 937-42. doi:10.1016/j.teln.2013.09.002
Richardson, B., Bromirski, B., & Hayden, A. (2012). Implementing a Safe and Reliable Process
for Medication Administration. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 26(3), 169-176.
doi:10.1097/nur.0b013e3182503fbe. Retrieved from: http://journals.lww.com/cns-
journal/Abstract/2012/05000/Implementing_a_Safe_and_Reliable_Process_for.12.aspx
Rodriguez-Gonzalez, C. G., Herranz-Alonso, A., Martin-Barbero, M. L., Duran-Garcia, E.,
Durango-Limarquez, M. I., Hernndez-Sampelayo, P., & Sanjurjo-Saez, M. (2011,
September 02). Prevalence of medication administration errors in two medical units with
automated prescription and dispensing. Retrieved from
https://academic.oup.com/jamia/article/19/1/72/735649/Prevalence-of-medication-
administration-errors-in#31584887