OBJECTIVE: To describe current practices for i.v. drug admixture preparation, to identify potential improvements for the enhancement of patient safety. DESIGN: A survey was conducted in a University hospital in Paris. Nurse practices were explored through the evaluation of five i.v. drug delivery systems: reconstituted freeze-dried drugs administered by syringe or i.v. bags, reconstituted drugs from vials administered by syringe or i.v. bags Ready to Use (RtU). PARTICIPANTS: i.v. drug preparation practices were documented by a representative sample of nurses in the following departments: intensive care, emergency, abdominal surgery, cardiology, infectious diseases, hepatology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected regarding: existence of written procedures for preparations, sources of information, labelling, methods of preparation and calculation of doses, nurse satisfaction regarding safety and ease of use of the different i.v. systems. RESULTS: A total of 299 questionnaires were completed and 100 nurses from the chosen wards were surveyed. The study highlighted a lack of procedure (71-85%) and a lack of labelling (37%). CONCLUSION: This survey highlighted areas for improvement in the preparation of i.v. drugs. It may contribute to raising awareness among nurses and physicians about the risks of medication errors. This survey also helped the pharmacy department in supporting the development of pharmaceutical procedures, the development of satellite pharmacy, the set up of training sessions for i.v. preparation and the switch toward ready to use packages when these are available.
OBJECTIVE: To describe current practices for i.v. drug admixture preparation, to identify potential improvements for the enhancement of patient safety. DESIGN: A survey was conducted in a University hospital in Paris. Nurse practices were explored through the evaluation of five i.v. drug delivery systems: reconstituted freeze-dried drugs administered by syringe or i.v. bags, reconstituted drugs from vials administered by syringe or i.v. bags Ready to Use (RtU). PARTICIPANTS: i.v. drug preparation practices were documented by a representative sample of nurses in the following departments: intensive care, emergency, abdominal surgery, cardiology, infectious diseases, hepatology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected regarding: existence of written procedures for preparations, sources of information, labelling, methods of preparation and calculation of doses, nurse satisfaction regarding safety and ease of use of the different i.v. systems. RESULTS: A total of 299 questionnaires were completed and 100 nurses from the chosen wards were surveyed. The study highlighted a lack of procedure (71-85%) and a lack of labelling (37%). CONCLUSION: This survey highlighted areas for improvement in the preparation of i.v. drugs. It may contribute to raising awareness among nurses and physicians about the risks of medication errors. This survey also helped the pharmacy department in supporting the development of pharmaceutical procedures, the development of satellite pharmacy, the set up of training sessions for i.v. preparation and the switch toward ready to use packages when these are available.