NURS FPX 4020 Assessment 2 Root Cause Analysis and Safety Improvement Plan
Safety and quality of healthcare delivery are among the top objectives in any healthcare setting. The need to meet these objectives’ desired outcomes has been compelling healthcare scholars to devise effective measures to improve patient outcomes. The solution to the problems affecting healthcare organizations starts with identifying these problems, and then an effective approach could be developed to these issues (Martin-Delgado et al., 2020). As such, the healthcare systems have depended on Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify these problems. RCA is a collective term that describes numerous approaches, techniques, and tools to uncover specific healthcare problems. Therefore, the purpose of this assignment is to explore root-cause analysis (RCA) if it took place in a healthcare setting.
Analysis of the Root Cause
Vila health clinic has been one of the best-performing clinics in New York, and its yearly report showed that it met most of its objectives. However, one data raised concerns about the current quality and safety of patients at the clinic. The medication administration errors in a health care setting had gone high, citing a silent problem at the clinic. Thus, the RCA was conducted on the issue (Di Simone et al., 2019). The outcome of the RCA showed that medication administration errors were high, as most cases of medication errors involved patients taking the wrong medications. This medical administration affects both patients and nurses in almost equal measures. The patient’s safety is compromised because worse cases of medication administration errors might lead to death. On the other hand, nurses have failed to meet safety standards that can protect patients from such errors.
The adverse impacts of medication errors have led to research looking into the problem and suggesting ways of dealing with the problems, prevalence, and medication magnitude. In one of the studies, Suclupe et al. (2020) conducted a study to explore the magnitude and prevalence of medication errors and how they are connected to nurses’ working conditions, clinical characteristics, and the patient’s sociodemographic characteristics. The researchers collected data on prescription errors. The analysis identified a total of six hundred and fifty prescription errors, with the most prominent being errors of omission. In addition, staying in the ICU was a risk factor connected with omission errors. From this research, it was noted that timely detection of errors is important to control the errors.
The current high rates of medication administration errors at Villa health are a negative outcome of its expectations. Various measures need to be implemented to ensure that nurses have the right skills and tools to prevent medication administration errors (Di Simone et al., 2019). Again, the lack of modern resources that can aid nurses in eliminating the problem increases the effect of the problem at the clinic. Undeniably, the organization cannot have the ability to eliminate these administration errors completely, but they have the power to reduce their effect on patients.
Application of Evidence-Based Strategies
Medication errors can be solved using various strategies. One of them is using bar codes. Barcodes ensure medications are administered to the correct patients (Thomson et al., 2018). One pro of this method is that the technology is easy to use. However, the acquisition of the whole barcoding system and personnel training may need a huge capital. The other possible solution is a structured education offered to patients to equip them with skills and knowledge on medication use in terms of doses, adherence, and times. One advantage is that nurses can easily carry it out in the care settings. Therefore, approaching the increased medication administration errors at Vila health using the ideas from this article implies that barcode technology is essential in improving patients’ medication. The proposed solution would be significant in applying this evidence-based practice that promotes the use of modern technology among nurses as it would aid in reducing cases of medication administration errors in healthcare settings.
On the other hand, the hospital management would be ready to embrace quick change that would allow all the nurses to change towards eliminating the cited problem. Nurses have a significant role in policy-making to reduce medication administration errors, prevent illnesses and improve care outcomes. One of the roles is being a patient advocate (Vaishnavi et al., 2019). Nurses also influence the law maker’s opinions through advocacy efforts such as writing letters to them and sharing their views in public forums. Nurses also write policy proposals and persuade lawmakers to sponsor the same for adoption.
Nursing interventions are important in improving patient outcomes. However, these interventions can only be as effective as required if the leadership strategies are supportive. Therefore, various leadership strategies can be used to improve patient experience, patient-centered care, and outcomes. One of the strategies is collaboration (Vaishnavi et al., 2019). Effective diabetes care requires a multi-professional collaboration between physicians, nurses, and pharmacists; leaders should encourage such collaborations. The other strategy is the support of evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Research has shown that collaboration and EBP are crucial to improving patient outcomes.
