Design and Implementation of Hospital Automatic Nursing Management Information System Based on Computer Information Technology.

Clinical nursing work fails to integrate various nursing tasks such as basic care, observation of patients' conditions, medication, treatment, communication, and health guidance to provide continuous and full nursing care for patients. Based on this, this paper uses the Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimize the infusion process and achieve closed-loop management of medications and improve the efficiency and safety of infusion and medication administration by using a rational and effective outpatient and emergency infusion and medication management system. The system was built by applying wireless network, barcode technology, RFID, infrared tube sensing, and other technologies and was combined with actual nursing work to summarize application techniques and precautions. The application of this system will become a new highlight of medical informatization, improve patient experience, monitor infusion safety, enhance nursing care, reduce emergency medical disputes, improve patient satisfaction, and will create good social and economic benefits for the hospital.

Cost-effectiveness of point-of-care testing with task-shifting for HIV care in South Africa: a modelling study.

BACKGROUND: The number of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) requiring treatment monitoring in low-resource settings is rapidly increasing. Point-of-care (POC) testing for ART monitoring might alleviate burden on centralised laboratories and improve clinical outcomes, but its cost-effectiveness is unknown. METHODS: We used cost and effectiveness data from the STREAM trial in South Africa (February, 2017-October, 2018), which evaluated POC testing for viral load, CD4 count, and creatinine, with task shifting from professional to lower-cadre registered nurses compared with laboratory-based testing without task shifting (standard of care). We parameterised an agent-based network model, EMOD-HIV, to project the impact of implementing this intervention in South Africa over 20 years, simulating approximately 175 000 individuals per run. We assumed POC monitoring increased viral suppression by 9 percentage points, enrolment into community-based ART delivery by 25 percentage points, and switching to second-line ART by 1 percentage point compared with standard of care, as reported in the STREAM trial. We evaluated POC implementation in varying clinic sizes (10-50 patient initiating ART per month). We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and report the mean and 90% model variability of 250 runs, using a cost-effectiveness threshold of US$500 per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted for our main analysis. FINDINGS: POC testing at 70% coverage of patients on ART was projected to reduce HIV infections by 4·5% (90% model variability 1·6 to 7·6) and HIV-related deaths by 3·9% (2·0 to 6·0). In clinics with 30 ART initiations per month, the intervention had an ICER of $197 (90% model variability -27 to 863) per DALY averted; results remained cost-effective when varying background viral suppression, ART dropout, intervention effectiveness, and reduction in HIV transmissibility. At higher clinic volumes (≥40 ART initiations per month), POC testing was cost-saving and at lower clinic volumes (20 ART initiations per month) the ICER was $734 (93 to 2569). A scenario that assumed POC testing did not increase enrolment into community ART delivery produced ICERs that exceeded the cost-effectiveness threshold for all clinic volumes. INTERPRETATION: POC testing is a promising strategy to cost-effectively improve patient outcomes in moderately sized clinics in South Africa. Results are most sensitive to changes in intervention impact on enrolment into community-based ART delivery. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health.

Task Shifting for Initiation and Monitoring of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-Infected Adults in Uganda: The SHARE Trial.

BACKGROUND: With countries moving toward the World Health Organization's "Treat All" recommendation, there is a need to initiate more HIV-infected persons into antiretroviral therapy (ART). In resource-limited settings, task shifting is 1 approach that can address clinician shortages. SETTING: Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test if nurse-initiated and monitored ART (NIMART) is noninferior to clinician-initiated and monitored ART in HIV-infected adults in Uganda. Study participants were HIV-infected, ART-naive, and clinically stable adults. The primary outcome was a composite end point of any of the following: all-cause mortality, virological failure, toxicity, and loss to follow-up at 12 months post-ART initiation. RESULTS: Over half of the study cohort (1,760) was women (54.9%). The mean age was 35.1 years (SD 9.51). Five hundred thirty-three (31.6%) participants experienced the composite end point. At 12 months post-ART initiation, nurse-initiated and monitored ART was noninferior to clinician-initiated and monitored ART. The intention-to-treat site-adjusted risk differences for the composite end point were -4.1 [97.5% confidence interval (CI): = -9.8 to 0.2] with complete case analysis and -3.4 (97.5% CI: = -9.1 to 2.5) with multiple imputation analysis. Per-protocol site-adjusted risk differences were -3.6 (97.5% CI: = -10.5 to 0.6) for complete case analysis and -3.1 (-8.8 to 2.8) for multiple imputation analysis. This difference was within hypothesized margins (6%) for noninferiority. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses were noninferior to clinicians for initiation and monitoring of ART. Task shifting to trained nurses is a viable means to increase access to ART. Future studies should evaluate NIMART for other groups (e.g., children, adolescents, and unstable patients).

Seguridad en la administración de medicamentos: investigación sobre la práctica de enfermería y circunstancias de errores / Safety in drug administration: research on nursing practice and circumstances of errors / Segurança na administração de medicamentos: investigação sobre a prática de enfermagem e circunstâncias de erros

Introducción: Prestar un cuidado seguro, efectivo, oportuno e individualizado es un gran desafío en la asistencia a la salud. Actualmente, los principales errores en la asistencia a la salud están relacionados con errores de medicación. Estos errores pueden ocasionar daños, especialmente en pediatría, debido a la inmadurez de los órganos y la variación de peso y superficie corpórea. De esta forma, se percibe la importancia de la enfermería en ese escenario para la garantía de una asistencia segura. Objetivo Investigar la práctica de los profesionales de enfermería sobre el proceso de administración de medicamentos, así como las circunstancias que conducen a los errores. Método: Estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo, realizado con 147 profesionales de enfermería en Unidades Intensivas neonatales y pediátricas. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario elaborado y basado en las recomendaciones de la Guideline for Prevention of Intravascular cateter-related infections relacionadas con la práctica de la administración de medicamentos y posteriormente se realizó análisis descriptivo de los datos. Resultados: Los profesionales señalaron fragilidades de la práctica como chequeo doble de las medicaciones, administración de medicamentos preparados por el compañero, retrasos y falta de verificación de las prescripciones. Los errores más comunes derivaron de dosis erróneas y los factores ambientales fueron presentados como punto crítico. Conclusión: Los hallazgos encontrados interfieren en la consolidación de prácticas de seguridad en la administración de medicación en pediatría y neonatología, sugiriendo la necesidad de la calificación del equipo y monitoreo continuo del proceso de trabajo

Introduction: To provide safe, effective, timely and individualized care is a major challenge in health care. Currently, the main errors in health care are related to medication errors. These errors can cause damages, especially in pediatrics, because of organs' immaturity and variation in the weight and body surface. In this way, the importance of nursing in this scenario is perceived to guarantee a safe care. Objective: To investigate the practice of nursing professionals about drug administration process, as well as the circumstances that lead to errors. Method: Descriptive, quantitative study with 147 nursing professionals in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Units. To collect data, a questionnaire was used elaborated and based on the recommendations of the Guideline for Prevention of Intravascular catheter-related infections with questions related to the practice of drug administration and afterwards a descriptive data analysis was used. Results: The professionals pointed out weaknesses in the practice, such as double checking of medications, administration of medication prepared by the colleague, delays and lack in checking the prescriptions. The most common errors were derived from the wrong dose and the environmental factors were presented as a critical point. Conclusion: The findings interfere in the consolidation of safety practices in drug administration in pediatrics and neonatology, suggesting the need for team qualification and continuous monitoring of the work process

Introdução: Prestar um cuidado seguro, efetivo, oportuno e individualizado é um grande desafio na assistência à saúde. Atualmente, os principais erros na assistência à saúde estão relacionados à erros de medicação. Esses erros podem ocasionar danos, especialmente na pediatria, em decorrência da imaturidade dos órgãos e a variação de peso e superfície corpórea. Dessa forma, percebe-se a importância da enfermagem nesse cenário para a garantia de uma assistência segura. Objetivo: Investigar a prática dos profissionais de enfermagem sobre processo de administração de medicamento, bem como as circunstâncias que levam aos erros. Método: estudo descritivo, quantitativo, realizado com 147 profissionais de enfermagem em Unidades Intensivas neonatais e pediátricas. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um questionário elaborado e alicerçado nas recomendações doGuideline for Prevention of Intravascular cateter-related infections com perguntas relativas a prática de administração de medicamentos e posteriormente realizado analise descritiva dos dados. Resultados: Os profissionais apontaram fragilidades da prática como checagem dupla das medicações, administração de medicações preparada pelo colega, atrasos e falta de checagem das prescrições. Os erros mais comuns derivaram de dose errada e os fatores ambientais foram apresentados como ponto crítico. Conclusão: os achados encontrados interferem na consolidação de práticas de segurança na administração de medicação na pediatria e neonatologia, sugerindo necessidade da qualificação da equipe e monitoramento continuo do processo de trabalho

Participación de las enfermeras de Cantabria en el Sistema Español de Farmacovigilancia / Participation of Cantabrian nurses in the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System

Objetivo: describir la participación de las enfermeras de Cantabria en el Sistema de Farmacovigilancia Español mediante la notificación de sospechas de reacciones adversas a medicamentos (RAM) y determinar si su ámbito laboral influye en la notificación de las RAM graves. Método: estudio descriptivo longitudinal retrospectivo de las sospechas de RAM notificadas por profesionales enfermeros al Centro de Farmacovigilancia de Cantabria, entre 2010 y 2016. Se estudiaron variables relacionadas con la RAM (medicamento implicado, síntomas y gravedad) y el ámbito profesional de la enfermera que realizó la notificación. Se llevó a cabo estadística descriptiva y prueba de contraste de hipótesis Chi cuadrado de Pearson para determinar la asociación entre la gravedad de las sospechas de RAM y el ámbito profesional del notificador. Resultados: de las 3.008 notificaciones de sospechas de RAM recogidas en el Centro de Farmacovigilancia de Cantabria entre 2010 y 2016, las enfermeras aportaron 34, lo que supuso un 1,1% del total de notificaciones recibidas. El 59% fue clasificada como grave y de ellas el 70% provenía del ámbito hospitalario, sin encontrarse diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la gravedad de la RAM y el ámbito profesional donde se notificó (p= 0,51). Conclusiones: la participación de las enfermeras cántabras en el Sistema de Farmacovigilancia Español es mínima. La mayoría de notificaciones es grave y proviene del ámbito hospitalario. Es necesario indagar acerca de las razones de la infranotificación, así como establecer medidas formativas e informativas dirigidas al colectivo enfermero en materia de farmacovigilancia

Objective: to describe the participation of Cantabrian nurses in the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System through reporting suspected drug-related adverse events (DRAEs), and to determine if their work setting has an impact on reporting severe DRAEs. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional retrospective study of the suspected DRAEs reported by nursing professionals to the Pharmacovigilance Centre in Cantabria between 2010 and 2016. Variables associated with the DRAE were studied (medication involved, symptoms and severity), and the professional setting of the reporting nurse. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi Square hypothesis contrast test were used to determine any association between the severity of suspected DRAEs and the professional setting of the reporter. Results: nurses contributed 34 out of the 3,008 reports of suspected DRAEs collected at the Pharmacovigilance Centre of Cantabria between 2010 and 2016; this represented 1.1% of the total reports received. Of these, 59% were classified as severe, and 70% of them came from the hospital setting; no statistically significant differences were found between DRAE severity and the professional setting where it was reported (p= 0.51). Conclusions: there is a minimal participation of Cantabrian nurses in the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System. The majority of reports were severe and came from the hospital setting. It is necessary to find out the reasons for this under-reporting, as well as to implement training and informative measures targeted to the nursing community in terms of pharmacovigilance

Interés para la enfermería de los nuevos anticuerpos monoclonales. Una revolución terapéutica / Monoclonal antibodies: a new revolutionary therapy

Los anticuerpos monoclonales (mAb) son una poderosa herramienta para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de muchas enfermedades. En los últimos años la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) ha autorizado la comercialización de nuevos mAb y otros se incorporarán en un futuro próximo. Los profesionales de enfermería, como responsables de la administración, deben conocer las características más importantes de este tipo de herramientas terapéuticas. Se pretende relacionar los diferentes tipos de mAb aprobados en España, sus indicaciones terapéuticas y reacciones adversas, así como destacar otros aspectos importantes sobre el desarrollo de estos nuevos fármacos en el mercado. Los mAb son eficaces para el tratamiento de enfermedades oncológicas, reumatológicas, dermatológicas o neurológicas, entre otras. Además, se están desarrollando numerosos ensayos clínicos con otros nuevos mAb que incrementarán el número de fármacos disponibles, así como nuevas indicaciones para los ya existentes. Aunque la introducción de estos nuevos productos en el mercado está contribuyendo a disminuir la mortalidad y mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes, en la práctica clínica existe un gran debate sobre la necesidad de aprobar tantos nuevos fármacos con altos costes para el sistema sanitario y con un beneficio dudoso con respecto al resto de los de su grupo ya comercializados (AU)

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are a powerful tool for numerous illnesses' diagnosis and therapy. Over the last few years, the Spanish Agency for Medical Drugs and Health Products (AEMPS) has approved the merchandising of new mAb. Many more approvals are expected to come in the near future. Nursing professionals, responsible for drug administration, should know the most important characteristics of this type of therapeutic tools. Our aim is to link the different types of mAb licensed in Spain, their therapeutic indications, adverse effects, and point out important aspects of the development of these new drugs in the pharmacological market. MAb are very effective for the treatment of oncologic, dermatologic and neurologic diseases among others. Ongoing medical trials with new mAb will increase the current available arsenal, including new indications on the already approved drugs. Although the introduction of this new class of drugs in the pharmaceutical market is reducing mortality and improving the quality of patients' lives, an important debate is going on in real clinical practice over the need to endorse so many new drugs, which pose a huge economic burden on the National Health System and doubtful advantages in comparison to the rest of readily commercialized mAb (AU)

Medication Safety: What Nurses Should Know About Black Box Warnings.

"Safety first" has always been a nursing priority-just as medication education has been an essential nursing function. Approximately 79 million individuals of all ages, birth-to-death, were prescribed psychotropic medications in 2013. Nurses of all disciplines and who work in all practice settings must be aware of the potential safety concerns related to medications patients may be taking. Black Box Warnings (BBWs) are the strictest labeling requirements that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can mandate. Risks of increased suicidality, mortality in older adults, potential for abuse and drug dependence, and life-threatening hepatic failure are among the most significant BBWs attributed to psychotropic medications. As such, nurses must be aware of not only how medications will benefit patients in relieving symptoms of or preventing their disease but also the potential risks, adverse reactions, and BBWs. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 55(6), 11-15.].

The Impact of Liver and Renal Dysfunction on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Sedative and Analgesic Drugs in Critically Ill Adult Patients.

The use of sedative and analgesic drug therapy is often necessary for the care of critically ill patients. Renal and hepatic dysfunction, which occurs frequently in this patient population, can significantly alter drugs' pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties. By anticipating how these medications may be affected by liver or kidney dysfunction, health care practitioners may be able to provide tailored dosing regimens that ensure optimal comfort while minimizing the risk of adverse events.

Toward Solving the Sedation-Assessment Conundrum: Neurofunction Monitoring.

The sedation-assessment conundrum is the struggle to balance the need for sedation against the need to awaken the patient and perform a neurologic examination. This article discusses the nuances of the sedation-assessment conundrum as well as approaches to resolve this and reduce the negative impact of abruptly stopping sedative infusions. Both oversedation and undersedation affect critically ill patients. This article discusses methods of assessing sedation and interpreting individualized patient responses to sedation. The use of neurofunction monitors and periods of sedation interruption are discussed within the context of addressing the sedation-assessment conundrum.

Nurse-led titration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, and angiotensin receptor blockers for people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is associated with high mortality and hospital readmissions. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can improve survival and reduce hospital readmissions and are recommended as first-line therapy in the treatment of heart failure. Evidence has also shown that there is a dose-dependent relationship of these medications with patient outcomes. Despite this evidence, primary care physicians are reluctant to up-titrate these medications. New strategies aimed at facilitating this up-titration are warranted. Nurse-led titration (NLT) is one such strategy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of NLT of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, ACEIs, and ARBs in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in terms of safety and patient outcomes. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL Issue 11 of 12, 19/12/2014), MEDLINE OVID (1946 to November week 3 2014), and EMBASE Classic and EMBASE OVID (1947 to 2014 week 50). We also searched reference lists of relevant primary studies, systematic reviews, clinical trial registries, and unpublished theses sources. We used no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NLT of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, ACEIs, and/or ARBs comparing the optimisation of these medications by a nurse to optimisation by another health professional in patients with HFrEF. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors (AD & JC) independently assessed studies for eligibility and risk of bias. We contacted primary authors if we required additional information. We examined quality of evidence using the GRADE rating tool for RCTs. We analysed extracted data by risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for dichotomous data to measure effect sizes of intervention group compared with usual-care group. Meta-analyses used the fixed-effect Mantel-Haenszel method. We assessed heterogeneity between studies by Chi(2) and I(2). MAIN RESULTS: We included seven studies (1684 participants) in the review. One study enrolled participants from a residential care facility, and the other six studies from primary care and outpatient clinics. All-cause hospital admission data was available in four studies (556 participants). Participants in the NLT group experienced a lower rate of all-cause hospital admissions (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.88, high-quality evidence) and fewer hospital admissions related to heart failure (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.72, moderate-quality evidence) compared to the usual-care group. Six studies (902 participants) examined all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality was also lower in the NLT group (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.92, moderate-quality evidence) compared to usual care. Approximately 27 deaths could be avoided for every 1000 people receiving NLT of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, ACEIs, and ARBs. Only three studies (370 participants) reported outcomes on all-cause and heart failure-related event-free survival. Participants in the NLT group were more likely to remain event free compared to participants in the usual-care group (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.77, moderate-quality evidence). Five studies (966 participants) reported on the number of participants reaching target dose of beta-adrenergic blocking agents. This was also higher in the NLT group compared to usual care (RR 1.99, 95% CI 1.61 to 2.47, low-quality evidence). However, there was a substantial degree of heterogeneity in this pooled analysis. We rated the risk of bias in these studies as high mainly due to a lack of clarity regarding incomplete outcome data, lack of reporting on adverse events associated with the intervention, and the inability to blind participants and personnel. Participants in the NLT group reached maximal dose of beta-adrenergic blocking agents in half the time compared with participants in usual care. Two studies reported on adverse events; one of these studies stated there were no adverse events, and the other study found one adverse event but did not specify the type or severity of the adverse event. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Participants in the NLT group experienced fewer hospital admissions for any cause and an increase in survival and number of participants reaching target dose within a shorter time period. However, the quality of evidence regarding the proportion of participants reaching target dose was low and should be interpreted with caution. We found high-quality evidence supporting NLT as one strategy that may improve the optimisation of beta-adrenergic blocking agents resulting in a reduction in hospital admissions. Despite evidence of a dose-dependent relationship of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, ACEIs, and ARBs with improving outcomes in patients with HFrEF, the translation of this evidence into clinical practice is poor. NLT is one strategy that facilitates the implementation of this evidence into practice.

Prescription drug monitoring programs: Combating prescription drug misuse.

To help combat prescription drug misuse, most states have implemented Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)-electronic databases that collect and track prescription data and flag suspected diversion activities. Equipped with expanding prescriptive authority, NPs are now poised to become vital change agents in expanding the potential effectiveness of PDMPs.

Farmacología en cuidados paliativos. Vías de administración, mezclas, efectos secundarios frecuentes, normas básicas para el control de síntomas / Pharmacological treatment in palliative care. Drug administration route, continuous subcutaneous infusion, adverse side effects symptom management

Objetivo. Para lograr el bienestar del paciente en Cuidados Paliativos (CP) es obligado conocer cuáles son los síntomas más frecuentes, qué fármacos se utilizan para su alivio, cuáles son las vías de administración, qué efectividad demuestran y qué incompatibilidades, interacciones y efectos adversos. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar las cuestiones relevantes en el manejo enfermero de los fármacos comúnmente usados en CP y presentar recomendaciones orientadas a la práctica clínica. Metodología. Se seleccionan las intervenciones sobre manejo enfermero de fármacos en CP recomendadas por la literatura científica tras una búsqueda realizada en Scopus, CINAHL, Medline-Pubmed, UpToDate y Google Académico. Resultados. La vía oral es la de elección en el paciente en situación paliativa, y la subcutánea cuando no está disponible la primera. La sintomatología, compleja, intensa y cambiante, debe reevaluarse de forma sistemática por el profesional de enfermería, y contrarrestar posibles descompensaciones impredecibles de la misma con una dosis extra de medicación. Discusión. El personal de enfermería ha de saber reconocer la descompensación y actuar rápida y eficazmente en el alivio de una sintomatología tan desagradable para el paciente como el dolor, la disnea o el delírium. Para la administración correcta de la medicación de rescate, el personal de enfermería debe conocer los métodos de evaluación sintomática, las características farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de los fármacos, los intervalos de tiempo que deben transcurrir entre diferentes rescates y evaluar la respuesta a los mismos (AU)

Objective. To achieve well-being in patients in Palliative Care is required to know which are the most common symptoms, which are the drugs used for relief, which are the routes of administration of drugs that are suitable, how effective the drugs are and what incompatibilities, interactions and adverse effects occur. The aim of this article is to review the relevant issues in the management of the drugs commonly used by nursing in Palliative Care and presenting recommendations to clinical practice. Methodology. Management interventions drugs for nurses Palliative Care recommended by the scientific literature after a search of Scopus, CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, UpToDate and Google Scholar are selected. Results. The oral route is the choice for patients in palliative situation and subcutaneous route when the first is not available. The symptoms, complex, intense and moody, should be systematically reevaluated by the nurse, to predict when a posible decompensation of it needing extra dose of medication. Discussion. Nurses must be able to recognize the imbalance of well-being and act quickly and effectively, to get relief to some unpleasant situations for the patient as the pain symptoms, dyspnea or delirium. For the proper administration of rescue medication, the nurse should know the methods of symptomatic evaluation, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, the time intervals to elapse between different rescues and assess response to them (AU)

Anticoagulation clinic versus a traditional warfarin management model.

Warfarin is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant. The management of warfarin is challenging, and current guidelines fail to include a model to assist practitioners in optimizing therapeutic dosing. The traditional model and the anticoagulation clinic (AC) model of warfarin management were compared and results found the AC model optimum.

Identification and management of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a complex and chronic mental illness. Individuals with this disorder usually have medical comorbidities needing management in primary care. This article focuses on bipolar disorder identification and medication management concerns for primary care nurse practitioners.

Mitigating errors caused by interruptions during medication verification and administration: interventions in a simulated ambulatory chemotherapy setting.

BACKGROUND: Nurses are frequently interrupted during medication verification and administration; however, few interventions exist to mitigate resulting errors, and the impact of these interventions on medication safety is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The study objectives were to (A) assess the effects of interruptions on medication verification and administration errors, and (B) design and test the effectiveness of targeted interventions at reducing these errors. METHODS: The study focused on medication verification and administration in an ambulatory chemotherapy setting. A simulation laboratory experiment was conducted to determine interruption-related error rates during specific medication verification and administration tasks. Interventions to reduce these errors were developed through a participatory design process, and their error reduction effectiveness was assessed through a postintervention experiment. RESULTS: Significantly more nurses committed medication errors when interrupted than when uninterrupted. With use of interventions when interrupted, significantly fewer nurses made errors in verifying medication volumes contained in syringes (16/18; 89% preintervention error rate vs 11/19; 58% postintervention error rate; p=0.038; Fisher's exact test) and programmed in ambulatory pumps (17/18; 94% preintervention vs 11/19; 58% postintervention; p=0.012). The rate of error commission significantly decreased with use of interventions when interrupted during intravenous push (16/18; 89% preintervention vs 6/19; 32% postintervention; p=0.017) and pump programming (7/18; 39% preintervention vs 1/19; 5% postintervention; p=0.017). No statistically significant differences were observed for other medication verification tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Interruptions can lead to medication verification and administration errors. Interventions were highly effective at reducing unanticipated errors of commission in medication administration tasks, but showed mixed effectiveness at reducing predictable errors of detection in medication verification tasks. These findings can be generalised and adapted to mitigate interruption-related errors in other settings where medication verification and administration are required.

Therapeutic education to cancer patients: experiences of Italian nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic patient' education is a complex process requiring a proper level of communication between the patient and the healthcare professional. Nurses play a key role in providing the patients and their families with educational activities. OBJECTIVE: This paper is the report of a study which investigates the experiences of some Italian nurses with regards to their role in therapeutic education to cancer patients. METHODS: Qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 52 nurses working in different Local Health Service Units of two northern Italy regions: Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. To identify categories and items arising from the data, the researchers used a qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The interview format was classified into six main categories: a) Patient education as daily care activity; b) Relevance of communication and dialogue for educational purposes; c) Relative usefulness of written information; d) Therapeutic education recording; e) Patients' feedbacks as a tool for assessing therapeutic education; and f) Difficult communication. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of nurses in terms of their professional role in therapeutic education for cancer patients shows the steady presence of educational activities carried out in a non-planned way. This research confirms the need to launch educational interventions for nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It is essential to implement an action plan to promote opportunities of professional training in the field since among the most frequent reasons for project failure in therapeutic education is the lack of expert human resources.

PCA by proxy: taking the patient out of patient-controlled analgesia: this controversial practice can be done safely in carefully controlled circumstances.

Among the questions raised about patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) by proxy are as follows: What are the safety issues related to PCA by proxy? Should another type of pain management be used for patients who can not activate the PCA button? This article focuses on safe PCA use and authorized agent-controlled analgesia (AACA).