Sprout Reflection On Medication Administration Assessment Answer

Answer :

Theme 1 Medication administration - oral medication

Situation

It was during the first clinical placement that I was providing care Mr Hates. I was trying to provide him with the best nursing care for positive health outcomes. Although at the time of his medication administration I administered the drug diazepam orally this was given to be intravenous. This led to the clinical deterioration and the patient suffered alcohol withdrawal reactions. I felt very sad that my single mistake could have been fatal for the patient. Later I felt relieved as he came out of harm. 

Experience and previous learning 

From my past learning experience, I remember that diazepam can be given both orally and intravenously.  The two ways are acceptable by meeting the dose volume. 

Read and Refer 

A nurse must conduct the medical examination with due care and consideration. I now think I should use a systematic approach with an emphasis on continence and patient-centred treatment (Schuelke et al., 2019). Moreover, since it was my first professional placement, my supervisor should have monitored my work. In their clinical practice, trained nurse managers must guide new nurses. 

Other influences 

During that day I did not get proper sleep due to a hectic work schedule and also the patient’s family was making noise and talking continuously. I read the handovers and medication chart with keen attention but due to lack of sleep, I think I could not concentrate.  

Understanding

From this experience, I learnt that all potential impacts and implications of treatment must be considered for the patient's well-being and health outcomes. Also, the methods that are regularly used for patient evaluation must be assessed and remembered such as 5R’s of medication. 

Take it forward 

For minimizing such medication error in my future clinical placements I will undertake a training course named continuing nursing education (CNE). This helps in attaining medication safety and knowledge for all registered nurses (Wolak et al., 2017). Further, I will comply with the standard code of conduct. Pursuant to standards 7 of nursing and midwifery board, it is the legal responsibility of the nurse to provide efficient care, perform timely recognition and proper documentation (NMBA, 2017).  

Theme 2 Medication administration - parenteral medication (subcutaneous injection)

Situation 

During my clinical placement, I was providing care to Mr James. I and my fellow nurse took the consent of the patient and confirmed the route and dosage of the medicine. After that, I gloved, identified and exposed the injection site, and swabbed the injection site with a spirit swab. Concurrently, I advised the patient to relax and take a deep breath. After injection, I cleared the medication trolley and documented the time of medication. 

Past experience and previous learning 

I noted several positive learning activities had a good impact that I conducted as per the past learning experiences. These included communicating with the patient and getting consent, observing the six drug rights and following the right injection model. I also made use of the assistant nurse in ascertaining the patient details and confirming the prescription details.

Read and Refer

Despite the positive activities, some negative actions emerged. For instance, I had not placed the gloves on the medication trolley, I used the same needle to dilute and inject the patient, and documented while gloved with the gloves used by injecting the patient. Failure to review the medication protocol made me forget to place the gloves on the medication trolley (Martyn et al., 2019). 

Other influences

I was confident that I will be able to perform them effectively, however; I was anxious and cautious on the selection of the injection site. Despite the nervousness, I felt delighted for the ability to utilize all the six drug rights of drug administration and injecting heparin subcutaneously. On completion of the procedure, I believed that I had performed the procedure optimally.  

Understanding 

The failure to utilize the evidence-based practice can be attributed to the use of the same needle to inject water for injection to the vial and inject the patient. Injecting the vial make the needle brunt leading to traumatic injection on the patient tissues at the injection site (Bucknall et al., 2019).

Take it forward

If I were to repeat the procedure, I could have utilized the six drugs administration rights again. I would also use the assistant nurse in checking patient detail and drug details. However, I would ensure that all the required equipment are placed on the medication trolley, used different needles for injection and reconstituting the drug and remove gloves before documenting (Bucknall et al., 2019).

Theme 3 Aseptic technique

Situation

During my first clinical placement, I was providing care to Mrs Rita under the supervision of my nurse manager. The nurse asked me to take off his dressing and assess it. I used aseptic non-touch procedures and examined the wound. After this, the doctor came in and started examining it without washing his hands.  

Experience and previous learning  

In my college learning, I was told the importance of hand hygiene while performing aseptic dressing for the patients. It is important for the elimination of surgical site infections.  

Read and Refer 

According to Timmins et al. (2018), aseptic techniques are most useful while performing dressing in clinical care. They help in reducing microbial infections harm and this should be done with the help of aseptic hand hygiene procedures. Also, Wistrand et al. (2018) state that hand hygiene during wound dressing is of utmost importance as the doctors are at forefront of spreading surgical site infections so they should perform adequate cleaning processes. 

Other influences 

I think the doctor must be in hurry due to a large number of patients. Also, it might have been possible due to negligence.  

Understanding 

To reduce contamination and infections, hygienic activities mandate hand hygiene. It is the professional practice to either wear gloves or to wash hands. The Code of Professional Conduct (2018) of the Nursing and Midwifery Council notes that a nurse must work effectively and ensure patient safety (NMBA, 2018). 

Take it forward

In my next clinical placements, I will make sure I will not hesitate to tell the seniors to do right for doing beneficence for the patients. I will perform teamwork and will ask other team workers to perform right hygienic practices without making them feel hesitant in front of the patients.