NURS C301 Translational Research for Practice and Populations

A. Current Nursing Practice:

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In the Florence Healthcare System, a current nursing practice is the administration of intravenous (IV) medications without utilizing barcode scanning technology. Nurses currently rely on manual checks and verbal confirmation of patient identity before administering IV medications.

Reason for Change: The current nursing practice needs to be changed due to the potential for medication errors and patient safety concerns. Manual checks and verbal confirmation are susceptible to human errors, such as miscommunication or misidentification, leading to the administration of the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. Implementing barcode scanning technology can significantly reduce the risk of medication errors by ensuring accurate patient identification and medication verification.

B. Key Stakeholders:

1. Nurses: They play a central role in administering medications and will be responsible for using the barcode scanning technology accurately.
2. Patients: Patients will benefit from increased medication safety and reduced risk of errors.
3. Physicians: Physicians prescribe medications and will need to provide support and collaboration in implementing the new practice.
4. Pharmacists: Pharmacists dispense medications and can provide expertise in integrating barcode scanning technology into medication management.
5. Information Technology (IT) Team: The IT team will be responsible for implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting the barcode scanning system.

C. Evidence Critique Table:

Source	Evidence Strength	Evidence Hierarchy
Smith et al. (2020)	Strong	Systematic Review
Johnson & Lee (2021)	Moderate	Quasi-Experimental
Brown & Miller (2019)	Strong	Randomized Control
Parker et al. (2022)	Moderate	Qualitative
Garcia & Perez (2023)	Weak	Opinion Article

D. Evidence Summary:

The evidence supports the implementation of barcode scanning technology for medication administration. Smith et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review showing a significant reduction in medication errors after the adoption of barcode scanning. Brown & Miller (2019) demonstrated in a randomized control trial that barcode scanning improves patient safety by reducing the risk of wrong medication administration. Johnson & Lee (2021) reported moderate evidence of improved medication verification accuracy using barcode scanning. Qualitative findings by Parker et al. (2022) indicated increased nurse confidence and satisfaction with the technology. However, Garcia & Perez (2023) expressed concerns about initial resistance to change.

E. Recommended Best Practice:

Based on the evidence summary, the best practice is the implementation of barcode scanning technology for medication administration. This technology has been shown to significantly enhance patient safety and reduce the risk of medication errors.

F. Practice Change Model:

The chosen practice change model is the “Transtheoretical Model” (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983). This model aligns with the stages of change that individuals go through when adopting new behaviors. The Transtheoretical Model involves stages of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. It also recognizes the importance of addressing barriers and enhancing self-efficacy. This model is suitable because it takes into account the different levels of readiness among stakeholders and provides a framework to guide the implementation process.

G. Barriers to Implementation:

Possible barriers include resistance to change among nurses due to workflow disruption, initial technical challenges with the barcode scanning system, limited resources for training, and potential physician skepticism. Overcoming these barriers will require clear communication, comprehensive training, involving key stakeholders, and addressing concerns proactively.

H. Ethical Implications: During planning and implementation, ethical considerations include ensuring patient privacy and confidentiality when using barcode scanning technology, obtaining informed consent from patients for any changes in medication administration processes, and maintaining open communication with patients about the new practice to promote trust and transparency. Additionally, the ethical responsibility to ensure patient safety and minimize potential harm through the new technology must be upheld.