Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

After implementing a new medication administration safety process, what outcome would indicate improvement?

1. The frequency numbers increased, and RPNs were lower

2. The detectability increased, and RPNs were lower

3. The frequency numbers decreased, and RPNs were higher

4. The detectability decreased, and RPNs were lower

The correct answer is: The detectability increased, and RPNs were lower

When evaluating the effectiveness of a newly implemented medication administration safety process, looking at the detectability of potential medication errors and the Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) can provide significant insights. An increase in detectability suggests that the system is better at identifying potential medication errors when they occur, which inherently contributes to improving patient safety. In conjunction with this, a decrease in RPNs indicates that the overall risk associated with medication administration has reduced. RPNs are calculated by multiplying the severity, occurrence, and detectability of an error; therefore, an increase in detectability, coupled with lower RPNs, signifies that even if errors do occur, they are less likely to cause significant harm or that the system is equipped to catch them before they reach the patient. Monitoring these outcomes together gives a comprehensive view of improvement in the medication administration safety process, thereby ensuring that strategies put in place are effective in reducing risks and enhancing patient safety.