Outcomes of a quality improvement project for educating nurses on medication administration and errors in nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine has provided recommendations for preventing medication errors in nursing homes that include nursing education. Support for education on medication administration is derived from evidence, primarily in settings other than nursing homes. This quality improvement project implemented an educational program for licensed nurses to increase knowledge of medication administration and to decrease medication-related errors. METHOD: A descriptive study of 72 licensed nurses in two nursing homes was used for this project. Medication resources were provided at nursing stations in both facilities. Licensed nurses took a pretest and then watched a 35-minute education presentation. One month later, they took a posttest. RESULTS: Percentage scores on the tests were calculated. Paired t tests demonstrated an increase in nursing knowledge in one facility (p = 0.04) and no significant increase in nursing knowledge in the second. CONCLUSION: Mandatory participation by all staff members who administer medications would increase participation in the project. Multiple factors influence knowledge and medication administration in nursing homes and need further study.

Thyroidectomy: understanding the potential for complications.

Thyroidectomy is a relatively common procedure. Complications may result from the surgery itself or from secondary metabolic disturbances. Medical-surgical nurses must act quickly and efficiently to detect and treat postoperative complications.