Safe Medication Administration Practices

 High-Alert Medications List

This resource provides a comprehensive list of medications that carry a higher risk of causing significant harm if administered incorrectly. It highlights drugs that require extra caution during prescribing, dispensing, and administration. By using this list, nurses can implement additional safety checks and protocols when handling high-alert medications, especially in high-risk environments such as ICUs or emergency departments.

Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (n.d.). ISMP’s list of high-alert medications. https://www.ismp.org/recommendations/high-alert-medications-acute-list

Medication Without Harm Initiative

This global initiative outlines key strategies to reduce medication-related harm by 50% over five years. It identifies common sources of medication errors and recommends system-level interventions to improve medication safety. Nurses can use this resource to understand global priorities, adopt safer medication practices, and guide policy development in their own clinical settings.

World Health Organization. (2017). Medication without harm: WHO’s third global patient safety challenge. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HIS-SDS-2017.6

 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)

The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals include essential standards for safe medication practices, such as labeling, communication, and reconciliation. This resource helps nurses stay compliant with accreditation requirements and supports the consistent application of safety protocols. It is especially useful during staff orientation, policy reviews, and quality audits.

The Joint Commission. (2022). National patient safety goals: Hospital program. https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/hospital-2023-national-patient-safety-goals