Intravenous medicine preparation technique training programme for nurses in clinical areas

Area of Science:

• Neonatal medicine preparation
• Medication safety in healthcare settings

Background:

• The medicine use process in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is complex and requires meticulous attention to detail.
• Identifying and rectifying errors in medication preparation is crucial for ensuring patient safety, especially for vulnerable neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and highlight critical weak points in the medicine preparation and use process within neonatal intensive care units.
• To evaluate the adherence to standard procedures during the preparation of commonly used neonatal medications.

Main Methods:

• Video recordings of medicine preparation by staff nurses were collected from eight NICUs.
• Fifteen videos documented the preparation of vancomycin, gentamicin, caffeine citrate, and phenobarbital.

Main Results:

• All 15 videos reviewed contained medication preparation errors.
• Common errors included using the same syringe for measurement and dilution (53.3%), incorrect syringe size (53.3%), and failure to check measured volumes (26.6%).
• Proper reconstitution and mixing techniques were largely absent, particularly for vancomycin.

Conclusions:

• Significant deficiencies in medicine preparation techniques were identified across multiple NICUs.
• Hospitals must implement comprehensive training programs to educate staff on correct medication preparation and handling procedures.
• Addressing these errors is essential to enhance medication safety and prevent adverse events in neonates.