Paper Example on Medication Errors and Adverse Events in Elderly Community Nursing Patients

Article 1

Beanland C., Elliott RA, Goeman D., Lee C.Y. &Vakil K. (2016). Medicines management, medication errors and adverse medication events in older people referred to a community nursing service: A retrospective observational study. Drugs Real World Outcomes, 3, 13-24.

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Background of the Study

According to Beanland, Elliott, Goeman, Lee, and, Vakil (2016), the population of older people has elevated all over the world, since 20th century. In the 21th century, there has been growing to emphasize on caring for elderly patients to maintain staying with their families and a rise in the magnitude of treatment for medical conditions, which frequently affect aged individuals, causing enlarged polypharmacy and medication treatment difficulty. In combination, these aspects have attributed to an increased need for community nursing services to care for elderly patients with handling medicine at home.

Research Problem

Aged people getting home-based nursing attention are at great danger of medication-associated problems not only in health care facilities, but also, those in the Community Nursing Services (CNSs) facilities. The unorganized settings and challenges in communication are frequent in-home care environments. Nurses have restricted contact and relationship with the medical practitioners giving care to patients. At times, there are several practitioners taking care of the elderly. Besides, prescribers rely largely on the nurses for reports on medical errors. In other cases, the casual health providers are in charge of administering medicines. In most scenarios, there is a considerable rise in non-observance to medical rules.

CNS patients have several risk factors for medication misfortune. Deficiencies in medicines management were acknowledged, comprising low utilization of medication charts. There is need of new strategies to enhance medicines management in the home environment

Method of Study

The study conducted over a period of three months a retrospective observational survey of a casual sample population of hundred elderly patients to a large non-profit CNS for medicines management assistance. The study measured current medical problems, demographics, referral source, medical assistances, types of aid offered, and a rate of nurses visits among others. Results

39% of Elderly patients were directed for medical help often by hospitals, while the rest of the percentage were referred by families, palliative care services, case managers, and, general practitioners. Common medical conditions were multiple health conditions, which had a median of five and medicines with a median of 10. Among them of 34% did not use medicine, and 48% of the rest of the population used high-risk medicines such as opiates, insulin, and, anticoagulants. 47 % of medicine aids were often utilized, and the majority of the patients are usually visited occasionally by nurses to monitor how patients are using their medicines.

Ethical Consideration

The primary ethical consideration used in the research comprise of keeping the private details of the deceased individual. Since the health facilities could not produce their clients' personal data, they decided to issue numbers of patients that either died a short time after being admitted into the hospital or before the time of discharge without giving additional information about the person (Beanland, Elliott RA, Goeman, Lee,and, Vakil,2016).In addition, claim that it is important for the researchers to avoid any action that can cause mischief to the subject. Instead, the research should target at maximizing the profits in applying the information collected to better the wellbeing of patients. By itself, study required to understand appropriate medication administration as explored appropriate ratio of nurse-to-patient in the hospital environment.

Conclusion

The researcher conclude that aged individuals referred to as CNSs may experience a great danger of medication errors and unfavorable measures. The researcher hereby wants better sustenance on medicines management. It is notable from the research that there exist a high need for better plans to enhance the safety of CNS patients. The authors give an elaborate and strong conclusion that creates a room for forthcoming studies. The conclusion is significant to give out the objectives of the research. The association of both authors mirrors the reliability and steadiness of the research conclusion to the nursing performs. The researchers experienced and knowledgeable also they work with highly regarded organizations based in Australia

Article 2

Lang, T. A., Hodge, M., Olson, V., Romano, P. S., & Kravitz, R. L. (2004). Nurse-patient ratios: a systematic review on the effects of nurse staffing on patient, nurse employee, and hospital outcomes. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 34(7), 326-337.

Background

Insufficient nursing staffing levels by experienced RNs are associated with a higher rates of patient falls, medical errors, infections, and, even death. Because of immense reductions in nursing expenditure, joined with the problems presented by a growing nursing shortage, care for sicker patients, and, fewer nurses work longer periods. This situation entails care and contributes to the nursing shortage by introducing an environment which drives nurses from the besides.

Health facilities may be compromised by forces which have escalate patient acuity , minimized ratio of caregivers to patient, and, reduced the level of training of the caregivers

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the peer- reviewed literature support particular minimum nurse- patient rations for acute care facilities and whether nursing staffing is related to patient, health outcome, or nurse employee

Methods of the Study

The researchers reviewed studies systematically of the effects on nurse employee, nursing staffing on patient, and, hospital outcomes published between 1980 and 2003 to determine whether they could lead the environment of minimum licensed nurse-patient ratio in acute care hospitals.

Results of the Study

The retrieved articles and abstracts of interest were 2897 and 490 respectively, and 43 achieved the inclusion criteria. Nevertheless, all modified for case mix and skill mix, only one current study addressed minimum nursing staffing rations. Outcomes of patients were restricted to in-hospital, contrary to incidences. Evidence implies that richer staff is linked to lower failure to- rescue rates shorter hospital stays, and, lowers inpatient mortality rates.

Ethical Consideration

This study informed the contestants about the aim of the study. Further, it made clear to the participants that participation of the study is voluntary and they can withdraw from it any time as wish. The logic behind this was explained too. It obtained the consent from contestants by asking them it signs a written consent form.

Conclusion

The literature material provides no support for particular, minimum nurse-patient ratios for acute care hospitals, particularly in the non-existence of modifications for skills and patient mix. Nonetheless, total nursing hours and skill mix appear to affect some significant patient outcomes.

References

Elliott, R. A., Lee, C. Y., Beanland, C., Vakil, K., & Goeman, D. (2016). Medicines management, medication errors and adverse medication events in older people referred to a community nursing service: a retrospective observational study. Drugs-real world outcomes, 3(1), 13-24.

Lang, T. A., Hodge, M., Olson, V., Romano, P. S., & Kravitz, R. L. (2004). Nurse-patient ratios: a systematic review on the effects of nurse staffing on patient, nurse employee, and hospital outcomes. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 34(7), 326-337.