Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC) Practice Exam

In smart pump usage, which area is most frequently associated with errors?

1. Use of the drug library

2. Secondary infusions

3. Wrong patient

4. Incorrect dosage input

The correct answer is: Secondary infusions

In the context of smart pump usage, secondary infusions are most frequently associated with errors due to the complexity involved in managing multiple IV therapies simultaneously. Secondary infusions often require nurses to juggle the setup of the primary infusion and the concurrent secondary medication, which can lead to confusion. The integration of a second infusion into an existing primary line can introduce error opportunities during administration. This includes incorrect programming of the smart pump, mismanagement of the infusions, or failure to properly assess the patient’s response to both infusions. The potential for alarms or interruptions during the delivery of the primary infusion while managing a secondary one can also contribute to mistakes. In comparison, while the drug library, wrong patient errors, and incorrect dosage input are significant safety concerns in smart pump usage, they are typically more controlled and are frequently addressed through protocols and training within healthcare settings. The dual complexity of managing secondary infusions could lead to a higher frequency of errors within that specific area.