Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

To compare medication omissions on two units accurately, which data should be examined?

1. Total number of medication errors on each unit

2. Total number of medication omissions on each unit

3. Medication omissions per administered dose on each unit

4. Medication errors per administered dose on each unit

The correct answer is: Medication omissions per administered dose on each unit

When assessing medication omissions on two different units, examining medication omissions per administered dose provides the most meaningful and accurate comparison. This approach allows for a standardized way to measure the frequency of medication omissions relative to the total number of doses given. By calculating omissions in relation to the administered doses, it accounts for variations in patient populations, medication administration practices, and the total volume of medications prescribed. This context is crucial, as one unit may have a higher number of total medications prescribed than another, potentially skewing the analysis if only total omissions were considered. Focusing solely on the total number of medication omissions might indicate that one unit is performing worse than another without considering how many doses were administered in the first place. Therefore, the medication omissions per administered dose metric allows for an equitable comparison that reflects the performance of each unit more accurately. This metric can help identify the proportion of omitted medications in the context of actual medication administration, enabling more effective quality improvement initiatives.