PICOT question
Based on our research, we arrived at the following question: Among patients admitted to the medical complex (P), the interruptions and distractions experienced by nurses during their duty clinical care (I) against uninterrupted care (C) influence patient protection aftermath (O) during hospital stay (T)?
Purpose of the paper
This paper aims to examine the impact of interruptions and distractions on patient safety in nursing practice. Specifically, we aim to explore the relationship between interruptions and distractions nurses experience during clinical care tasks and adverse patient outcomes such as medication errors and side effects. By revisiting the accessible literature and evidence, we seek to provide insight into the magnitude of this issue and its implications for nursing practice and patient care.
Level of evidence
The main question of this study covers the creative relationship between interruptions and distractions and their impact on patient safety in nursing practice. Specifically, we examine whether interruptions and distractions in nursing care led to unpleasant patient outcomes, such as medication errors, falls, or holdups in taking care of patients. To answer this question effectively, the best type of evidence would be RCTs. RCTs are highly regarded as the gold standard for imposing causality. In this context, RCTs could be conducted to experiment with the effects of interventions to reduce interruptions and distractions in nursing practice. Results will include patient protection measures, reporting affairs, and side effects.
Search strategy
To address the impact of interruptions and distractions on patient safety in nursing practice, we conducted a comprehensive research strategy aligned with the PICOT question. Our search was initiated in reputable databases, starting with the CU Library, and expanded to include PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO(Huiling et al., 2023). We are accustomed to a combination of search terms, such as “interruptions,” “distractions,” “patient safety,” “nursing practice,” “complex of care health,” and “hospitalization.” Boolean operators were used to combine these terms and catalyze relevant results effectively.
Refinement decisions
Throughout the screening process, we applied strict criteria to enrich our search results. First, we focused on articles published within the past five years to ensure the proof was current. Second, we focused on studies conducted in acute care settings, particularly in healthcare complexes, as this applied to their target population and environment (Adams, 2022). Third, we limited the search to articles written in English for ease of accord and analysis. By making these screening decisions, we could reduce the number of reports to a manageable level, ensuring that the selected studies closely matched our research question and would deliver applicable facts about the impact of interruptions and distractions on patient safety during hospital stays in the healthcare complex.
Relevant articles
After refining our search, we identified two highly relevant articles to answer our research question: Smith and Johnson’s examination, conducted in 2023 and documented in the Journal of Nursing Research, is a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between interruptions, distractions, and medication errors (Smith & Johnson, 2023). By meticulously reviewing and statistically analyzing multiple studies, they aimed to demonstrate the extent to which these external factors contribute to medication errors, providing valuable data to medical professionals. Healthcare professionals and researchers in the field. It provides strong evidence of the negative impact of interruptions and distractions on patients.
In 2020, a group of researchers conducted a qualitative investigation. This study investigates the world of nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) according to their subjective experiences and angle on disruptions and distractions in their workplace (Lewandowska et al., 2020). Researchers conducted in-depth interviews and collected data to conclude the experiences of these healthcare professionals better, ultimately shedding light on the challenges they face when disrupted and loss of attention during intensive. It delivers valuable perception into the challenges nurses face and their implications for patient safety.
Conclusion
The impact of interruptions and distractions on patient safety in nursing practice is a big issue that needs attention. Proof shows that interruptions and distractions harm patient outcomes, including medication errors and delays in care. The PICOT question and search strategy helped us identify two relevant articles that will form the foundation of our comprehensive analysis of this vital topic.
References
Adams, J. (2022). Chemo Checker: Transforming Care and Increasing Patient Safety by Reducing Nurse Distractions. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.cjon.100-103
Hu, H., Zhang, M., Wu, B., & Wu, X. (2023). Effects of different types of interference on nurses’ working memory: An ERP study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15784
Lewandowska, K., Weisbrot, M., Cieloszyk, A., Mędrzycka- Dąbrowska, W., Krupa, S., & Ozga, D. (2020). Impact of alarm fatigue on the work of nurses in an intensive care environment—a systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228409
Smith, S., & Johnson, G. (2023). A systematic review of the interruption, medical errors, and distractions within the public hospital system focusing on nursing and allied health professions. Journal of Nursing Research https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281819
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