Paper
Friday, July 23, 2004
This presentation is part of : Family Health With Special Needs Children
Nurses' Perceptions of Bar-Coding Technology for Children
Cheryl Topps, ARNP, MSN1, Michelle L. Franco, MSN, ARNP2, Patricia R. Messmer, PhD, RN, BC, FAAN3, Jacqueline Gonzalez, MSN, ARNP, CNAA1, and Lourdes Lopez, BSN1. (1) Nursing, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA, (2) Nursing Department, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA, (3) Department of Nursing, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
Learning Objective #1: Enhance knowledge of bar-coding technology for pediatric patients
Learning Objective #2: Identify the value of reporting "near misses" in regarding to medication errors
The objective of Bar-Coding Technology (BCT)"Scan for Safety" is to enhance patient care and prevent medication errors (Chapman, 2001). The IOM To Err is Human (1999) states medication-related errors occur during administration (34%) and prescribing (56%); 70% medication errors preventable. Pediatric medications are generally dosed on weight, requiring dose calculation, high problem-prone area and significant medication errors. On 11/02 MCH launched "Scan for Safety" featuring work stations with BCT readers. Nurses scan badges, patients'ID bands and labels, verify "five rights" and check look-alike, sound-alike meds prior administration. Survey research design-King's perception served as framework for BCT survey; 6 demographic, 8 perception items on scale 1-5 and 3 open-ended. Content validity established. The population included 550 nurses, 25 pharmacists and 25 respiratory therapists Of 600 surveys, 188 (31%) returned. Methods- Surveys readministered post BCT; 25% returned. Findings- M-36 yrs, M yrs @ MCH- 8.55 M yrs practice-10.91 Q1 Effect BCT on med errors M 3.14/2.98 Q7 increased patient satisfaction M+3.4/3.1; signficant (t=0.35) Themes pre-meds given timely,less error, time and safety increased, more reported errors but less errors administering actual meds (near misses). Post fewer med errors, smoother administration but more time spent on meds taking time away from patients. Discussion-Pre-post increase in awareness-self reporting "near misses". Conclusion Pre apprehension and fear of BCT; post-staff indicated BCT easy to learn while increasing safety and efficiency, reducing errors. Implications- BCT add a new dimension of reporting "near misses" and saving lives.

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