Role of Nurse Leaders and Managers in Regulatory and Practice Standards

Role of Nurse Leaders and Managers in Regulatory and Practice Standards

In Minnesota, one of the current issues identified by the State Board of Nursing is medication errors. Medication errors can have serious consequences for patient’s safety and well-being. They pose a significant challenge to healthcare facilities. To address this issue, nurse leaders and managers must take a proactive role in educating their units within the organization. Firstly, nurse leaders and managers should initiate regular training sessions on medication administration and safety protocols. They should teach about administration guidelines, error prevention strategies, and the importance of proper documentation (Wondmieneh et al., 2020). Additionally, real-life case studies can be used to illustrate the potential consequences of medication errors. This will create a sense of urgency and awareness among the nursing staff.

Secondly, open communication and a culture of transparency are crucial in addressing medication errors. Nurse leaders should encourage staff to report any medication errors or near misses without fear of reprisal (Cole et al., 2019). They should establish a non-punitive reporting system that focuses on learning rather than assigning blame. This will enable nurse leaders to gather data on error trends and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Furthermore, nurse leaders and managers can implement routine audits to ensure medication safety. These audits should assess not only the nurses’ adherence to proper medication administration but also the availability and accessibility of necessary resources. For instance, drug references, double-checking procedures, and clear labeling systems.

Nurse leaders and managers can also engage in continuous quality improvement initiatives. They can involve the entire nursing team in identifying potential areas for improvement and implementing evidence-based best practices (Zajac et al., 2021). This collaborative approach fosters a culture of shared responsibility for medication safety.

In summary, addressing the issue of medication errors, as identified by the Minnesota State Board of Nursing, requires nurse leaders and managers to take a multifaceted approach. This will encompass education, communication, transparency, routine audits, and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. Nurse leaders can better equip their units to provide safe and effective patient care, aligning with the state’s practice standards and regulations.

References

Cole, D. A., Bersick, E., Skarbek, A., Cummins, K., Dugan, K., & Grantoza, R. (2019). The courage to speak out: A study describing nurses’ attitudes to report unsafe practices in patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(6), 1176-1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12789

Wondmieneh, A., Alemu, W., Tadele, N., & Demis, A. (2020). Medication administration errors and contributing factors among nurses: a cross-sectional study in tertiary hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Nursing, 19(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-020-0397-0

Zajac, S., Woods, A., Tannenbaum, S., Salas, E., & Holladay, C. L. (2021). Overcoming challenges to teamwork in healthcare: a team effectiveness framework and evidence-based guidance. Frontiers in Communication, 6, 606445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.606445

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Role of the Nurse Leader and Manager in Regulatory and Practice Standards

As a nurse leader or manager, you will be required to support the nurses on the unit in understanding their role with regulation, practice standards, and mandatory reporting.

First Post

Describe one of the current issues identified by State Boards of Nursing in the state you will be applying for your nursing license. Discuss how the nurse leaders and managers would educate the unit within the organization.