Study of nurse workarounds in a hospital using bar code medication administration system

J Nurs Care Qual. 2012 Jul-Sep;27(3):232-9. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0b013e318240a854.

Abstract

This study analyzed registered nurse workarounds in an academic medical center using bar code medication administration technology. Nurse focus groups and a survey were used to determine the frequency and potential causes of workarounds. More than half of the nurses surveyed indicated that they administered medications without scanning the patient or medications during the last shift worked. Benefits of this study include considerations when implementing bar code medication administration technology that may minimize the development of these workarounds in practice.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Electronic Data Processing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Medication Errors / prevention & control
  • Medication Errors / statistics & numerical data
  • Medication Systems, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Practice Patterns, Nurses' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workflow*