THE EDITOR, Sir:

In light of the current media discussions between the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) regarding medication error, I would like to use this medium to appeal to all nurses not to get side-tracked or become complacent in carrying out their professional responsibilities. As nurses, we are legally, morally, and ethically responsible for our actions and/or omissions.

Medication errors can occur at any of the five points in the medication process: prescribing, documenting, dispensing, administering, and monitoring. Nurses have key roles to play in both medication delivery (administering) and monitoring. Therefore, a nurse must be vigilant in all aspect of the medication process.

Responsibility

Nurses are expected to take responsibility for and be answerable for the service we provide or make available. Therefore, any act of negligence that results in medication error cannot be justified even when acting under a prescriber's order.

A reasonable and prudent nurse will assess the medication order for its preciseness, accuracy and appropriateness prior to carrying out the order.

Therefore, if an order is apparently incorrect, he/she should objectively report the conflicting facts and discuss it with the precriber in a factual, non-blaming manner. This kind of approach will assure a collaborative move toward patient care and ultimately reduce errors and promote patient safety.

While the saga continues, one hope it is not contributing to a deterioration in the working relationship between doctors and nurses.

I am, etc.,

D. McBETH, RN, B.Sc.

betfirst@hotmail.com

Northern Caribbean University

Manchester