APPLYING EI TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF PATIENT SAFETY
Scenario: Medication Administration
Emotional/Interpersonal Hole:
During shift change, nurses are often pressed for time and may rush to hand off medications to oncoming staff. This can lead to incomplete or unclear information being relayed, increasing the risk of medication errors.
EI Ability to Ameliorate the Hole: Empathy
How it Works:
The outgoing nurse utilizes empathy to understand the potential stress and time constraints of the incoming nurse. Here's how:
- Preparation: The outgoing nurse gathers all relevant medication information beforehand, including medication names, dosages, frequencies, and any special administration instructions.
- Active Listening: During handover, the outgoing nurse actively listens to the oncoming nurse's questions and clarifies any potential ambiguities.
- Double-Checking: Both nurses double-check medication details together at the point of handover, ensuring clear communication and reducing the risk of errors.
By employing empathy, the outgoing nurse demonstrates a willingness to collaborate and share the workload, mitigating the pressure on the incoming nurse. This fosters a more positive and supportive team environment, improving communication and reducing the likelihood of medication errors due to rushed handoffs.
Additional Considerations:
- Standardized Procedures: Implementing standardized medication administration procedures can further streamline the process and reduce reliance on individual communication styles.
- Technology Integration: Utilizing electronic medication administration records (eMAR) can improve accuracy and reduce the risk of miscommunication during handoffs.
Remember, this is just an example. You can adapt the EIPS Model to any patient safety procedure in your workplace that has an emotional or interpersonal "hole" by identifying a relevant EI ability that can help bridge the gap and improve communication and collaboration.