Medication administration errors can occur when staff members must manipulate. Mixing solutions, counting tablets, cutting tablets, pouring liquids, and drawing solutions into syringes are all steps that may introduce errors into the medication administration process, especially in the midst of busy, noisy patient care units or when time is short. By dispensing each dose from the pharmacy in a single unit that is ready for administration without further steps, the risk of an administration error leading to an adverse drug event can be significantly reduced.
Tips
- Package each dose separately, especially when sending more than one dose to the unit.
- Provide non-standard (i.e., custom-made) doses in a timely manner so staff will not need to manipulate medications or adjust doses themselves.
- Remove already dispensed doses when the dose is changed or the medication is discontinued.
