Nursing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Nursing - Research Paper Example Although the process of medication reconciliation appears relatively simple, it has been difficult to organize and implement systems that ensure that reconciliation happens in a reliable manner. One author shows an error due to problems in the underlying processes of care: â€Å"A new report from the U.S. Pharmacopeia reveals that hospital medication errors may be on the increase despite efforts to combat the problem. The study also found that hospitalized patients over age 65 are twice as likely to be harmed by an error, accounting for half of all error-related deaths†. This particular perspective tends to contradict the initial assumption that mortality rates in cases of medication mistakes were relatively low when compared to other medical mistakes, but this is a matter of individuation. In the case examples, none of the results were fatal, but one was a root cause analysis event, which means that it was considered a sentinel event according to the JACHO. It is important to look at how this is also a problem that has interstices with home care environments. â€Å"Inconsistencies between patients’ admission orders and home medication regimens may occur. The JCAHO recognizes that medication safety is compromised when these discrepancies occur and require hospitals to develop a process of obtaining histories†. Hospitals can also help staff recognize the problem by putting up side-effect and drug combination charts. Education is also important because if a person does not receive an adequate education, they are not going to be able to apply knowledge.