Medication Safety: High-Alert Drugs and Error Prevention

1. Program overview

A small number of medicines account for a disproportionate share of serious medication harm. This course concentrates on those: anticoagulants, insulin, opioids, concentrated electrolytes, sedatives and chemotherapy. It covers where in the medication process errors occur, look-alike sound-alike hazards, independent double-check practice done properly, safe use of infusion devices, high-risk transitions such as admission and discharge reconciliation, and what to do after an error — including support for the staff member involved.

2. Why this program

• Focused on the drugs that cause most serious harm.
• Independent double-checks taught correctly.
• Covers transitions, where reconciliation fails.
• Includes second-victim support after an error.

3. Who it is for

Nurse · Pharmacist · Physician · Allied Health · Student

4. Program objectives

• Identify the medication classes responsible for most serious harm
• Describe where errors occur across the medication process
• Recognise look-alike and sound-alike hazards in your setting
• Perform an independent double-check correctly
• Apply safe practice with infusion devices and concentrated preparations
• Respond appropriately to a medication error, including staff support

5. Learning outcomes

• Identify high-alert medications in a described formulary list
• Locate the error point in a described medication incident
• Differentiate a genuine independent double-check from a confirmatory one
• Apply reconciliation to a described admission or discharge
• Recognise look-alike sound-alike risk in a given pair of products
• Plan an appropriate response to a medication error including staff support

6. Curriculum

1. Module 1: Where Medication Harm Comes From

   • Where Medication Harm Comes From

2. Module 2: The High-Alert List

   • The High-Alert List

3. Module 3: Look-Alike, Sound-Alike

   • Look-Alike, Sound-Alike

4. Module 4: Double-Checks and Devices

   • Double-Checks and Devices

5. Module 5: Transitions of Care

   • Transitions of Care

6. Module 6: After an Error

   • After an Error

7. Duration and structure

Total study hours: 3.5 — 2.75h content + 0.75h assessment. Duration is expressed in study hours only.

9. What you receive

This certificate confirms completion of Medication Safety: High-Alert Drugs and Error Prevention. Duration is expressed in study hours.

10. Delivery format

Self-paced · start any time · any device · lifetime access to the enrolled version.