Vegard Sletten Ek

• Ek, Vegard Sletten; Solevåg, Anne Lee & Solberg, Marianne Trygg (2022). ICU nurses’ experiences of medication double-checking: A qualitative study. The Nordic Journal of Nursing Research (NJNR). ISSN 2057-1585. 42(4). doi: 10.1177/20571585221107266. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are often on potent medications. According to Norwegian medication administration regulations, all intravenous medications should be subject to double-checking before patient administration. The aim of this study was to explore Norwegian ICU nurses’ perceptions of how medication double-checking is practiced in the ICU. We chose a qualitative and explorative design, used the COREQ reporting guideline and performed two focus group interviews in two ICUs. This study found that barriers to performing double-checking included understaffing, physical unit design and a lack of written medication orders. In clinical practice, informal guidelines exist as to which medications should always be double-checked and which medications can be administered without a prior double-check. The informants felt reluctant to administer medications without prior double-checking. The graded approach to medication double-checking practiced in our two ICUs is not in agreement with Norwegian regulations but is more in line with international recommendations.

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