A patient is taking a drug that has known toxic side effects. What will the nurse do?

Choice A Reason:

Naming, blaming, and shaming those who make errors is not an effective way to prevent medication errors. This approach can create a culture of fear and silence, where healthcare professionals may be less likely to report errors or near misses. Instead, fostering a culture of safety and openness encourages reporting and learning from mistakes, which is crucial for preventing future errors.

Choice B Reason:

Using electronic medical order entry systems is an effective way to prevent medication errors. These systems help reduce errors related to handwriting, transcription, and dosage calculations. They can also provide clinical decision support, alerting prescribers to potential drug interactions, allergies, and other contraindications. This technology enhances accuracy and efficiency in the medication ordering process.

Choice C Reason:

Helping patients to be active, informed members of the healthcare team is another effective strategy. When patients are well-informed about their medications, they can help identify potential errors and ensure they are taking their medications correctly. Patient engagement and education are key components in preventing medication errors and improving overall healthcare outcomes.

Choice D Reason:

Focusing on caregivers who make errors is not an effective strategy for preventing medication errors. Similar to choice A, this approach can lead to a punitive environment that discourages error reporting and transparency. Instead, focusing on system improvements and creating a supportive environment for healthcare professionals is more effective in reducing errors.

Choice E Reason:

Developing nonpunitive approaches to track errors is an effective way to prevent medication errors. A nonpunitive approach encourages healthcare professionals to report errors and near misses without fear of retribution. This allows for the identification of error patterns and the implementation of system-wide changes to prevent future errors. Creating a culture of safety and continuous improvement is essential for reducing medication errors.

Choice A Reason:

Clinical trials to assess the teratogenic effects of medications during pregnancy are ethically challenging because they would involve exposing pregnant women and their fetuses to potential risks. The primary concern is the safety of the fetus, as many drugs can cross the placenta and potentially cause harm. Therefore, most of the data on teratogenic effects come from observational studies, case reports, and animal studies rather than controlled clinical trials.

Choice B Reason:

While the FDA has initiatives to improve the safety of medications during pregnancy, it is not accurate to say that a new study will allow testing of medications during pregnancy in the future. The ethical concerns surrounding the exposure of pregnant women to potential teratogens remain a significant barrier. Current efforts focus on improving post-marketing surveillance and encouraging the reporting of adverse effects to gather more data.

Choice C Reason:

Although some women may be reluctant to admit taking medications during pregnancy, this is not the primary reason for the lack of data on teratogenic effects. The main issue is the ethical and practical challenges of conducting clinical trials in pregnant women. Reluctance to report medication use can contribute to underreporting, but it is not the central factor.

Choice D Reason:

Recommending that pregnant women avoid medications is a general precaution, but it does not address the reason why more is not known about teratogenic effects. The avoidance of medications is advised to minimize potential risks, but the lack of data is primarily due to the ethical constraints of conducting clinical trials in this population.