A news article that doesn't blame just nurses! LOL!

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Here is a link to an article I found on Yahoo news. I like the fact that FINALLY, the Nurses aren't hung out to dry on this one, but actually addresses some of the real core probelms! What do you think? (it is short really).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_he_me/drug_errors

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I wonder how long it took someone to figure out that doctor's are notorious to have the handwriting of a serial killer. :chuckle

On a serious note, I'll be glad when all Rx's are computer generated. It would not only cut down on sound alikes, misspelled words, amount errors, but also could immediately check to make sure the dosage/route/type is all given & accurate.

As a consumer, I know it is a PAIN when I go to the pharmacy & can't pick up meds because the Dr's office forgot to specify ointment or cream, for example.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Agree - the article focuses on fixing "systems" without laying blame on nursing.

However, one paragraph stood out for me:

"Perhaps the report's most stunning finding was that, on average, a hospitalized patient is subject to at least one medication error per day."

Does this seem excessive, or is it just me?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

1 error per day is not excessive. I just learned that my hospital ESTIMATES that we have 500 med errors per month. You have to also realize this is the Known errors . There are so many that go unreported.

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