Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is implementing a double-check system for high-risk medications. This strategy is considered the most effective for enhancing patient safety in medication administration. Double-checking high-risk medications involves two nurses independently verifying the medication, dose, route, and patient before administration. This process significantly reduces the risk of errors, especially for medications that can cause serious harm if administered incorrectly.

While using barcode scanning is a good practice, it doesn't provide the same level of safety as a human double-check for high-risk medications. Verbal orders should be minimized, not encouraged, in emergency settings to reduce miscommunication. Lastly, relying solely on computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems doesn't account for potential system errors or the need for clinical judgment in medication administration.