Date of Conferral
2018
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Health Services
Advisor
Joanne Minnick
Abstract
Thousands of people die each year due to preventable medication errors. Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems can reduce medication errors at the point of care, thus increasing patient safety. The purpose of the project was to gather evidence regarding BCMA usefulness in reducing medication errors. Kurt Lewin's 3-step change theory was used to guide this project. The nature of this project was a systematic review of the literature pertaining to the effectiveness of using BCMA systems to reduce medication errors in at the point of care in the hospital setting. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model and tool kit was used to evaluate each article. The review comprised one systematic review, one integrative review, and 6 before-and-after observational studies. The results of each study indicated that the use of a BCMA system could reduce medication errors but not completely eliminate them. The findings of this project contribute evidence that BCMA systems can assist the clinician in safely administering medication. Dissemination of the evidence will contribute to a positive change by promoting greater understanding of the effectiveness of using BCMA systems in all areas that administer medication.
Recommended Citation
Cure, Laura Leonard, "Usefulness of Medication Scanners in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review" (2018). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 6004.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6004
