Course ID: FQUEWU112
Course Name: Medication Errors: The Nature of Errors and Strategies for Prevention
Credits: 1

This one contact hour home study continuing education course focuses on the cause and prevention of medication errors in the hospital setting. Errors in health care are not a random accident. Errors in health care are the result of the interaction of a number of factors including: the individual, the organization and the environment. This course will describe each factor and present strategies to decrease the incidence of medication error in your practice.

About the Author
Dr. Raines is an Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University. She received her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Masters in Perinatal Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an active member of AWHONN and is the Section Education Coordinator for Florida. Dr. Raines is an expert in nursing clinical practice issues.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this home study continuing education course, the participant will be able to:

1. Define medication errors.
2. Describe factors contributing to medication errors.
3. Identify the four most common medication errors.
4. Outline strategies to enhance safe medication practices.
5. Discuss environmental and systems causes of medication errors in the clinical setting.
6. Discuss the Florida Hospital Association Practice guidelines for medication administration.