Technology is no substitute for nursing judgment
I'd like to thank Michael Gann for reinforcing the shortcomings of bar code technology and the implications for healthcare providers in "How Informatics Nurses Use Bar Code Technology to Reduce Medication Errors" (March 2015).* Bar code technology is powerless to prevent errors that occur from incomplete or incorrect assessment data. For example, if a patient's medication history isn't assessed and properly documented during the admission process, including when the last dose of each medication was taken before admission, a patient could inadvertently receive a medication too early or too late, or even miss an important dose for an entire day.
When giving initial doses of medications early in admission, nurses need to recheck when patients had their last dose before admission to be certain a potentially toxic medication isn't given too early. Bar code technology can't distinguish these discrepancies; this requires accurate nursing assessment data and judgment to prevent errors. In addition, bar code technology doesn't necessarily alert clinicians about contraindications to drug administration.
Although bar code technology is an important and powerful tool to prevent errors, it can't prevent all mistakes and doesn't replace comprehensive nursing assessment and judgment. Healthcare providers need to be aware of bar code technology's limitations, and make the necessary adjustments to their practice.
-ADRIENNE MACCHIETTO, BSN
Minneapolis, Minn.
Adding another letter to the RLT model
I found the Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing to be very clear and practical ("The Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Nursing: A Framework to Complement the Nursing Process," March 2015).* However, to make the assessment more complete, one factor that influences activities of living should be added: spirituality. Spirituality can significantly influence the tasks and functions associated with living, and facilitating this factor can help achieve the goal of optimal health.
-MELISSA GILLILAND, RN
Mooresville, Ind.
* Individual subscribers can access articles free online at http://www.nursing2015.com. [Context Link]