A school health registered nurse identified medication administration documentation errors by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in a system of school health clinics in an urban setting. This nurse applied the Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control process of improvement methodology to effectively improve the process. The UAP of medication administration documentation error rate improved from 68% to 35%. This methodology may be used by school nurses to collaboratively look at ways to improve processes at the point of care.
Akron Children’s Hospital. (2013). School health services standard work instructions medication administration. Akron, OH: Akron Children’s Hospital.
2.
Center for Operations Excellence. (2012). A3 training manual. Akron, OH: Akron Children’s Hospital.
3.
FarrisK. B.McCarthyA. M.KellyM. W.ClayD.GrossJ. N. (2003). Issues of medication administration and control in Iowa schools. Journal of School Health, 73(9), 331-337.
4.
FiccaM.WelkD. (2006). Medication administration practices in Pennsylvania schools. The Journal of School Nursing, 22(3), 148-155.
5.
GhoshM. (2012). A3 process: A pragmatic problem-solving technique for process improvement in health care. Journal of Health Management, 14(1), 1-11.
6.
Institute of Medicine, Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
7.
JimmersonC. (2007). A3 problem solving for healthcare. New York, NY: Productivity Press.
8.
PriceJ. H.DakeJ. A.MurnanJ.TelljohannS. K. (2003). Elementary school secretaries’ experiences and perceptions of administering prescription medication. Journal of School Health, 73(10), 373-379.
9.
RichmondS. L. (2011). Medication error prevention in the school setting. NASN School Nurse, 9, 305-308.
