Course ID: FQUEWU113
Course Name: Prevention of Medical Errors
Credits: 2

This two contact hour home study continuing education course focuses on the prevention of medical errors through the review of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention and patient safety. Specifically, factors that impact the occurrence of medical errors, recognizing error-prone situations, processes to improve patient outcomes, responsibilities for reporting, safety needs of special populations and the need for public education are discussed. The Florida State Board of Nursing has identified prevention of medical errors as one component of the mandatory continuing education program for license renewal. Completion of this continuing education program will meet the Florida Board of Nursing requirement for 2 contact hours on prevention of medical errors.

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 medical errors, adverse event, errors of execution, errors of planning, active failures, latent failures, normalization of deviance and patient safety.
2. Identify factors that impact the occurrence of medical errors.
3. Recognize error-prone situations.
4. Discuss the model of root-cause analysis.
5. Discuss strategies for error reduction to improve patient outcomes.
6. Discuss safety needs of special populations.
7. Discuss methods for consumer participation and education in the promotion of safer health care.
8. Identify the elements of a culture of safety.