Medication Safety
What are the “five rights” of medication administration?
Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
What is the purpose of the surgical safety checklist?
To prevent errors and improve communication before, during, and after surgery.
What does SBAR stand for?
Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
How many identifiers are required before a procedure?
At least two.
What is a “near miss”?
An event that could have caused harm but did not.
What is the most common cause of medication errors?
Communication failures.
What is the “time-out” in surgery?
A pause before incision to confirm patient, procedure, and site.
Why is “read-back” important in verbal orders?
To confirm accuracy and prevent miscommunication.
Give an example of an acceptable patient identifier.
Name, date of birth, medical record number.
Why is reporting near misses important?
To identify risks and prevent future harm.
What does “high-alert medication” mean?
Drugs that have a higher risk of causing significant harm if used incorrectly.
Name one common cause of wrong-site surgery.
Inadequate verification of surgical site.
Give an example of a high-risk handoff situation.
ICU transfer or shift change.
Why is room number not considered a valid identifier?
It can change and is not unique to the patient.
Name one principle of a Just Culture.
Balancing accountability with learning.
Name one strategy to prevent look-alike/sound-alike medication errors.
Tall man lettering or storing separately.
What does “counting instruments and sponges” prevent?
Retained surgical items.
What is the main goal of standardized handoff tools?
To ensure critical information is communicated consistently.
What is the purpose of barcode scanning in medication administration?
To verify correct patient and medication.
What is the role of leadership in safety culture?
To model behaviors and prioritize safety.
What is the purpose of medication reconciliation?
To ensure accurate and complete medication information across transitions of care.
What is the primary purpose of a surgical “time-out” before incision?
To verify the correct patient, procedure, and site, ensuring all team members agree before starting surgery.
What does “closed-loop communication” mean?
Sender gives instruction, receiver repeats back, sender confirms.
What should you do if a patient is unable to confirm their identity?
Use wristband and cross-check with medical record.
What does “second victim” refer to?
A healthcare provider emotionally impacted by an adverse event.