NHS-FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Library Research Skills NHS-FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Applying Library Research Skills

Patient safety is paramount in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, especially in light of healthcare system errors. These errors can take many forms, including mistakes or flaws in healthcare delivery, and can lead to significant harm to patients and suboptimal outcomes. Addressing these errors is a complex challenge involving various healthcare processes and practices. Healthcare system errors are not just limited to active errors, such as wrong-site surgeries performed by frontline staff, but also include latent errors arising from system design issues, such as equipment failures or ineffective organizational structures (Bell et al., 2023). Adverse events resulting from these errors may include unintended injuries, prolonged hospitalization, or physical disability. It’s important to note that not all adverse outcomes are necessarily a result of errors; preventable adverse events are particularly attributed to medical errors.

In the healthcare industry, fear of retribution or damage to one’s reputation often discourages healthcare professionals from reporting errors. This creates a culture that inadvertently discourages the identification and rectification of errors, significantly increasing the risk of further adverse events. To combat this, there is a growing movement towards creating a blame-free culture that encourages error reporting as part of a larger strategy for quality improvement and patient safety enhancement. As someone who plays a role similar to that of a medical transcriptionist, I understand the importance of accuracy in documenting healthcare information. A transcription error, such as inaccurately documenting medication dosage, can seriously affect patient safety. This understanding highlights the interconnectedness of all roles within the healthcare system and the collective impact on patient safety. It underscores the importance of vigilance, thoroughness, and a commitment to continuous improvement in all aspects of healthcare delivery.

Identifying Academic Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles 

            To conduct my research on healthcare system errors, I utilized Capella University’s Summon database. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of my findings, I conducted targeted searches on databases such as ProQuest Central and PubMed Central. I employed keywords such as “healthcare system errors,” “patient safety,” and “quality of care” to refine my search and gather relevant information. To ensure the reliability of my sources, I consciously limited my search to scholarly and peer-reviewed journal articles in medicine and nursing. I also refined my search to include articles published within the past five years. By doing so, I could access current information that is in line with modern healthcare practices and patient safety protocols.

Assessing Credibility and Relevance of Information Sources

To ensure the reliability and significance of sources related to healthcare system errors, I extensively searched academic peer-reviewed journals available through PubMed. During my search, I found a highly informative article titled “Medical Error Reduction and Prevention” that provided valuable insights. This article is published in the StatPearls journal. It thoroughly examines various types of medical errors, such as active and latent errors, and how they affect patient safety. This source is trustworthy because of its academic rigor, it has undergone a peer-review process, and the authors are experts in the medical field. The article is relevant because it discusses the causes, consequences, and prevention strategies for medical errors in detail, making it an essential resource for addressing this crucial healthcare issue.