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Published on: September 20, 2019
A parenteral nutrition use survey with gap analysis
Joseph I Boullata1, Peggi Guenter, Jay M Mirtallo
1University of Pennsylvania, and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. boullata@nursing.upenn.edu
Safe practice guidelines for parenteral nutrition (PN) are available, yet compliance remains a concern. This survey highlights areas needing improvement in PN use to enhance patient safety and reduce medication errors.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy
- Clinical Practice
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a high-alert medication with available safe practice guidelines.
- Recent adverse events highlight the need to assess current PN practices.
- New guidelines for PN use are under consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey current practices in parenteral nutrition (PN) use.
- To identify areas of non-compliance with safe practice guidelines.
- To inform the development of new safety initiatives for PN.
Main Methods:
- A web-based survey with 70 items was conducted in August 2011.
- Respondents included dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.
- The survey covered all aspects of the PN use process.
Main Results:
- 895 healthcare professionals responded, predominantly from hospital settings.
- Electronic order entry and interfaces are infrequent, necessitating transcription steps.
- Many organizations have inconsistent ordering methods and infrequent documentation of deviations from best practices.
- 44% of organizations do not track PN-related medication errors.
Conclusions:
- Current survey data offer a valuable overview of PN practices.
- Compliance with some safe practice guidelines for PN remains suboptimal.
- Findings will guide future safety initiatives for the PN use process.
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