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How would you answer this question?

When nurses are interrupted during medication administration, errors can occur in practice. What percentage of the time do nurses make mistakes when interrupted during medication administration?

a. 22%
b. 31%
c. 74%
d. 100%

The correct answer is "c" 74%.

In a study by Westbrook, et al. (2010), the authors found that interruptions occurred in about 53% of medication administration events resulting in at least one procedural error in 74% of patients, and one clinical error in 25% of administrations.  Although many errors were considered to be minor, 2.7% were considered to be major errors resulting in complications or mortality.

The take home point here is that nurses are interrupted frequently during medication administration and that mistakes happen frequently, some leading to catastrophic results.  Seek a quiet environment when you give medications and give your peers a break, by leaving them alone during their medication administration.

From:
Westbrook, et al. (2010).  Association of interruptions with an increased risk and severity of medication administration errors.  Arch Intern Med, 26(170); 683.

Congratulations to Shirley Norton who won an autographed copy of my 101 Tips to Improve Your Nursing Care book for answering this week's question correctly.  Congratulations Shirley!

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.

PS. PJs, bunny slippers, and professional education? Call about our web-based seminars that you can attend from home! (800) 990-2629.

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