It is the responsibility of health care administration to provide the structure necessary for nurses to administer medications safely. Nursing practice is governed by the Board of Regulation in Nursing but nursing policies are what guide nursing practice at that health care entity. Policies often protect the nurse from litigation should an error occur. Conversely, not following policy or administrating medication without a policy will put the nurse at risk not only for litigation but can result in license suspension or forfeit. New medications enter the market daily.
Research discovers new uses and ways to administer old medications.
Subsequently, nursing administrators need to initiate and develop systems that promote safe medication administration. Nursing administrators have to insist that nurses of their organization be allowed to deliver patient care in the safest environment possible. Shaping systems and creating solution for safe medication administration should include those who actually do the work of administering medications. Nurses have the right to speak up when they see situations that can potentially result in medication errors. System glitches that place the patient at risk need to be addressed and corrected.