A small group of committed people

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Care
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Medication reconciliation systems are crucial for patient safety.
• Flaws in existing systems can create significant barriers to care.
• The nurse navigator role is vital for identifying and addressing these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a personal experience with a flawed medication reconciliation system.
• To highlight the importance and function of the nurse navigator role.
• To advocate for proactive elimination of identified barriers to care.

Main Methods:

• Personal narrative and reflective practice.
• Description of the nurse navigator's functions.
• Advocacy for systemic improvements in patient care.

Main Results:

• A flawed medication reconciliation system was identified and improved.
• The nurse navigator role proved effective in uncovering care barriers.
• Initiative and persistence led to positive system changes.

Conclusions:

• Nurse navigators play a key role in identifying barriers to high-quality patient care.
• Systemic improvements are necessary to eliminate identified barriers.
• Expanding the scope of nurse navigation can enhance patient and family care outcomes.