What Nurses Can Do Right Now to Reduce Medication Errors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Recent medication error events involving newborns in California and Indiana highlight the complex nature of medication use in hospitals and the importance of the nurse's role in preventing medication errors. Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit are especially vulnerable to medication errors, experiencing more medication errors and more potentially serious medication errors when compared to other patients in the hospital. Several studies cite specific technology such as computerized physician order entry, bar-code medication administration, computerized methods that promote easy access to patient information, and pharmacists participating in patient care rounds as effective methods to significantly reduce medication errors in the neonatal population. Unfortunately, owing to a variety of organizational barriers, the majority of hospitals nationwide have not implemented these recommendations completely. Due to the complexity of medication errors and how they occur, technology improvements alone will not prevent all medication errors and may create new and different errors. Technology in concert with an aware, safety-minded healthcare professional provides a comprehensive approach to medication error reduction. Nurses can reduce medication errors by implementing important changes to their individual practice including reporting medication errors, reducing distractions, implementation of safe medication double checks (comprehensive, consistent, and independent) before medication administration, and promoting a safety culture.

Keywords: Medication errors, Distractions, Patient safety, NICU, Nursing