AORNs Safe Medication Administration Tool Kit to be Distributed in June

DENVER The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)s Safe Medication Administration Tool Kit will be available for distribution in June 2005, in time for National Time Out Day.

Designed exclusively for the unique environment of perioperative patient care, the Tool Kit offers registered nurses a variety of resources to enhance perioperative medication competencies, expand awareness on safe medication administration, and address issues related to medication practices from a surgical perspective.

Work began on the Tool Kit as a continuation of AORNs Presidential Commission on Patient Safety (PCPS) agenda to support the perioperative clinician in providing a patient safe environment. Members of the PCPS and the Work Place Safety Task Force formed a subcommittee to review current literature and assemble a product designed to enhance perioperative medication competencies and be a valuable source of information for the user.

Developed by AORN and produced under an educational grant from Sandel Medical Industries, the Tool Kit contains:

-- Two multimedia videos on CD addressing medication errors and best practices for perioperative medication administration

-- A self-directed learning module on common perioperative medication categories

-- PNDS based Perioperative Medication Competencies

-- PNDS based Perioperative Medication Competency

-- A Perioperative Medication Safety Test

-- A pocket guide to frequently used medication conversions and calculations

-- A herbal/dietary supplement-drug interaction poster

-- AORN Guidance Statement on Safe Medication Practices in Perioperative Practice Setting

-- AORN-endorsed AANA-ASA Statement on Safe Use of Propofol

-- The Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) listing of dangerous abbreviations

-- A resource of web sites and clinical medication references

Contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of all educational components.

In addition to providing resources to help nurses develop more confidence in perioperative medication administration, the Tool Kit will give powerful testimony to health care professionals and leaders by stressing the need for collaboration from every member of the surgical team. One expert, Dr Lucian Leape, stated, Safety is everybodys responsibility. So its everybodys responsibility to play a role in that and to feel individually responsible and to function collaboratively as a team.

All AORN members who are managers or educators will receive a free copy of the Safe Medication Administration Tool Kit in June. General members will receive a free copy of the medication calculations and conversions pocket reference. A nominal fee to cover costs will be charged to process requests for additional kits. Non-members will can purchase the kit for an additional fee.

Source: AORN