Placement Reflection on Medication Safety and Infection Control in ICU

Running head: PLACEMENT REFLECTION
PLACEMENT REFLECTION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

PLACEMENT REFLECTION
Placement reflection
This assignment is based on the self reflection of the experience while I was being
placed in the Cardiacthoracic ICU in royal north shore hospital. I will reflect upon my
experiences based upon the two National Safety and quality health services standards. The
standards that I have chosen to reflect on my experiences are the medication safety standard
and the preventing and controlling the health care associated standards (Australian
Commission on safety and quality in health care., 2017). 5R’s of reflection has been used to
reflect on my practices.
Reporting
While my placement in the ICU of the cardiothoracic unit I have had the opportunity
to administer intravenous medication to patients under the supervision of the nurses. Fluid
replacement following any major surgery was common and we had to arrange for the
application of the intravenous medications. The common type of medications that we were
allowed to administer was the pain medications like morphine, paracetamol and Naloxone.
We also dealt with drugs that needed to be used through a central line. Since medication,
error is frequent in ICU and often brings about adverse events (Keers et al., 2013). Hence, we
had to remain mindful while administering the medications. Infections in intensive care unit
are also very common. Pneumonia is the most frequently detected infection in the ICU
(Paramythiotou et al., 2014). We also learned to apply sterile techniques and maintain
hygiene at the time of handling the ICU equipments, venous line, changing of the catheter.
Responding
Each time I had my turn to administer medications to my allotted patient; I really used
to remain anxious about the dosages and used to cross check them with the patient chart in

PLACEMENT REFLECTION
order to avoid any kind of medical errors. During the application of the medications, I used to
follow the five rights of medication administration- The right patient, the right drug, the right
dose, the right route and the right time. These five rights of medication administration have
been found to decrease medication errors in critically ill patients (Manias, Williams & Liew,
2012). I was nervous because I was well aware of the fact that there exists a very narrow zone
for allowing any kind of errors in an ICU. Nosocomial infections in the ICU has been
associated with increasing mortality and morbidity among the ICU patients and the
commonest types of infections that might occur are the central line associated blood stream
infection, urinary catheter related infection and infection at the surgical site (Paramythiotou
et al., 2014). I made it sure that I abide by the infection control guidelines of the hospital;
perform five moments of hand and hygiene while handling the ICU patients, use of soaps,
alcohol rubs and hand sanitizers before touching the patients. I was well aware of the fact
that antibiotic resistance is increasing and most of the infections are transmitted via the health
care workers. Hence, I never wanted to be the cause of infection transmission.
Relating
The Cardiothoracic intensive care unit (ICU) has been specifically designed for the
care of patient who has undergone cardiac or thoracic surgery. It contains a unit for level 1
trauma and respiratory care unit. An intensive care unit is a busy ward where the critically ill
patients are often are often on life support treatment and are under intense surveillance. The
nurses play an important role to manage the life support systems, pipelines and the monitors
(Vlayen et al., 2015). Critical event may occur during the treatment of the patient. It has to be
remembered that medication error in critical care are frequent, serious and predictable.
Hence, I believe that mindfulness, careful vigilance and five rights of medication