Medication Errors: Detection and Prevention

[wifewillis]

I'm a MAS (Medication Administration Supervisor) at a company that runs multiple group homes for intellectually disabled consumers. I manage the medical care of 35 consumers. This includes instructing the group home staff to give PRN medications (they administer scheduled medications also), be available to take calls from the staff in the group home in case of emergencies, etc. It's run under the Nurse Delegation Program.

The biggest problem that I have come across as a MAS Nurse is trying to prevent medication errors. No matter what I do, the staff in the home just cannot get a grasp on the whole medication administration thing. Because I don't work in the homes directly, I only end up reviewing the MARs at the end of the month, unless a medication is changed.

I have decided that I would like to begin directing the staff to do medication audits on 3rd shift. I was hoping to find a form online to use as an example when I present this suggestion to the administration, but I'm not coming up with any examples. What do you other nursing administrators use to detect and prevent medication errors?

[lostinal]

try this site for an overview:

http://www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Audit-Template-for-Compliance-with-a-Medicines-Policy-in-Care-Homes-with-or-without-Nursing-v1.41.pdf

try this site for a MAR audit form....tailor it to your needs

http://apd.myflorida.com/training/docs/mar-audit.pdf

[june2009]

Wifewillis - I feel your pain. I worked for a company that had 15 schools for kids with autism and intellectual disabilities across the state. The teachers and teachers aides administered medications. I traveled between the more local schools and had to do medication training via phone/computer power point for the ones that were too far away. I audited their meds and no matter what I did or said, they always made multiple errors. After being there for 2 years it was still like I never taught them a thing. (they never had a nurse before). I had a form I used for the audits. It was pretty good so I will see if I can find it. I still had tons of errors though. GOOD LUCK!