Medication Safety in Nursing

AUDIO CONFERENCE ON CD OR AUDIO ON-DEMAND

Sponsored by High-Alert Medications and Safe Practices: A study guide for nurses

presented on January 8, 2009

Learn how a simple 18-step process can help prevent medication errors

Despite Joint Commission Sentinel Event alerts, special reports, and extensive media coverage, medication errors continue to wreak havoc on healthcare organizations nationwide. At least 1.5 million people are injured in hospitals each year, costing upwards of $3.5 billion. All it takes is one terrified new grad nurse, one late night shift, one costly mistake. One medication error can change a patient’s life—and a nurse’s life—forever.

During the 90-minute audio conference, Medication Safety in Nursing: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Preventing Errors, you will learn best practices for general medication safety, discover how interdisciplinary relationships can help change your culture, and learn to implement the 18-step process the Western Pennsylvania Hospital used to reduce medication errors. Lisa Graper, BSN, and Megan Maddox, Pharm. D., BCPS, CDE, share strategies to educate staff, improve hospital culture, and overcome barriers to improve medication safety.

AGENDA

1. Importance of safe medication practices
   1. Relevant statistics and current events
   2. Recent Joint Commission activity
   3. Enormous costs involved
2. Changing the culture
   1. Education: Getting buy-in from staff
      • Buy-in from below
      • Buy-in from above
   2. Improving the environment with or without the new technology
   3. Goal: To have zero medication errors
3. Best practices for safe medication practices
   1. Challenges and distractions
      • Avoid interruptions
      • Examples and case studies
   2. Strategies to overcome challenges
   3. Building interdisciplinary relationships
      • Focus on collaboration
      • Working with pharmacists
      • Working with physicians
4. Case Study: 18-step system at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital
   1. Background: Why there was a need for a change
   2. Developing a strategy
      • Goals
      • Staff buy-in
      • Interdisciplinary approach
   3. Results
      • Why it has been successful
      • Lessons learned
      • Maintaining excellence
5. Q&A

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the importance of changing the nursing culture surrounding safe medication practices and overcoming the potential hurdles
2. Identify safe and effective medication practices involved in medication delivery processes
3. Construct an improved process for safe and accurate medication delivery
4. Organize interdisciplinary relationships and communications to achieve optimal medication practices and delivery
5. Explain the significance of medication errors and its affect on patients and clinicians

BONUS TOOLS

In addition to the expertise and advice presented during this audio conference, you'll also receive a slide presentation of the program materials, a copy of the ‘Playing Well With Others’ poster presented at the 2007 ANCC National Magnet Recognition Program® Conference, a list of handwritten errors to avoid, and other helpful medication management tools. These materials are provided with PDF links.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Lisa Graper, BSN, is the manager of Neonatal Intensive Care at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, an ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® recipient.  She has more than 29 years of diverse nursing experience in multiple hospital settings. Lisa began her career as a staff nurse in the Medical Surgical ICU at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh and relocated to several other hospitals including the ICU at Duke University.

Megan Maddox, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE, is the medication safety officer at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Megan is the co-chair of the Medication Safety Subcommittee at Sanford and plays an active roll in nurse education regarding reporting and preventing medication errors.  After completing her pharmacy residency, Megan worked in academia, holding faculty positions at St. Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis and Campbell University School of Pharmacy in Buies Creek, NC. Megan is a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist as well as a certified diabetic educator.

WHO SHOULD LISTEN?

Chief nursing officers, directors of nursing, VPs of nursing, VPs of patient care services, directors of education, staff development specialists, ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®* coordinators/directors, clinical nurse specialists, nurse managers and clinical managers, patient educators, and staff nurses, and clinical secretaries.

AUDIO ON-DEMAND

In addition to the regular purchase options for HCPro audio conferences, we are pleased to offer another option, an audio on-demand. Audio on-demand allows you to download the program and play it back at your convenience through your computer or MP3 player. Purchase a CD or audio on-demand of the program and listen when you can. It's also a perfect training tool for new staff or as a refresher for veteran staff.

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