NURS FPX 6202 Assessment 3 Quality improvement in the health care system (QI) is important for providing safe, efficient and patient -focused care. For this evaluation, we recommend a QI project that will reduce the errors of the drug administration in an acute care setting through the implementation of the Barcode Drug Administration (BCMA) system.
Problem Statement: Medication Administration Errors
Medication errors are the most common and preventable hospital adverse events. They have the potential to cause patient harm, hospitalization, and cost.
Causes of Medication Errors
Misidentification of patients
Distraction during medication rounds
Illegible prescriptions
Failure to use technology
According to the Institute of Medicine, approximately 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events occur annually in the United States. (IOM, 2023) NURS FPX 6202 Assessment 3
BCMA is an electronic confirmation process where nurses scan both the patient’s wristband and the medication to ensure the “five rights” of administration: correct patient, correct medication, correct dose, correct route, and correct time.
Supporting Evidence
Reduces medication errors by up to 41% (Poon et al., 2020)
Enhances nurse responsibility and patient safety
Incorporates seamlessly with electronic health records for documentation
Learn more about BCMA implementation
Proposed Quality Improvement Plan
Goal
To reduce medication administration errors by 50% in 6 months through BCMA implementation.
Objectives
Train 100% of nursing staff in BCMA
Integrate BCMA into daily meds rounds
Audit compliance weekly
Implementation Steps
Step
Timeline
Responsible Party
Conduct baseline error rate audit
Week 1
QI Nurse
Purchase and install barcode scanners
Week 2-3
IT Department
Staff training sessions
Week 4-5
Nurse Educators
Go-live and monitoring
Week 6 onward
Nurse Managers
Interprofessional Collaboration
Effective QI projects depend on collaboration:
Nurses: Utilize the BCMA system at bedside
Pharmacists: Verify accurate medication labeling and records
IT Support: Manage system integration and maintenance
Leadership: Provide policy guidance and budget approvals
Evaluation Plan
Track medication error reports monthly
Conduct staff surveys to pilot BCMA usability
Revise training or workflows based on audit results
How To: Launch a Quality Improvement Project
Identify a high-impact clinical problem
Assemble and review evidence-based solutions
Engage stakeholders and build a project team
Implement, track, and revise the intervention
Measure outcomes and spread findings
FAQs
What is BCMA and why is it effective?
BCMA uses barcode scanning to confirm patients and medicines to make errors low in the process of administration.
What advantage does BCMA offer nurses?
It streamlines workflow, confirms documentation, and enhances confidence in safe medication practice.
What are the difficulties of implementing BCMA?
Training needs, technical problems, and resistance to change are to be expected but eased with planning.
Conclusion
Medication administration errors are a constant threat to patient safety. The implementation of a BCMA system, supported by interprofessional collaboration and routine assessment, offers an evidence-based and scalable solution. These initiatives to enhance quality of care enhance nursing practice and lead to safer patient care.
References
Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2023). Preventing Medication Errors. National Academies Press.
Poon, E. G., Keohane, C. A., Yoon, C. S., Ditmore, M., Bane, A., Levtzion-Korach, O.,. & Gandhi, T. K. (2020). Effect of barcode technology on the safety of medication administration. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(18), 1698-1707.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2024). Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA). Retrieved from https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/barcode-medication-administration
Learn more about BCMA implementation
What is BCMA and why is it effective?
BCMA uses barcode scanning to confirm patients and medicines to make errors low in the process of administration.
