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NURS 4040 SCHOLARLY PROJECT PROPOSAL,
LITERATURE REVIEW, AND PICOT QUESTIONS AND
UPDATED ANSWERS 2026
Louisiana State University of Alexandria NURS 4040, Introduction to
Nursing
Scholarly Paper Proposal Assignment
The topic I wish to discuss is lack of discharge medication list needed to complete medication
reconciliation telephonically through case management, to increase patient safety, medication errors
and decrease rehospitalization. Medication reconciliation is the process of determining which list of
medications a patient is currently taking is the most accurate, and then using that list to provide patients
with the right medications wherever in the health system. Inadequate medication reconciliation can
result in unintentional medication discrepancies, which can be dangerous for patient safety (Baughman
et al., 2021).
It should be performed at every transition of care when new medications are ordered or
existing orders are rewritten in order to prevent medication errors such as omissions, duplications,
dosing errors, or drug interactions (Lester et al., 2019).
In my current position, it is frequently difficult to complete the required medication
reconciliation due to the case manager's inability to view the discharge mediation list and the patient's
inability to complete the medication reconciliation due to various factors such as decreased vision or
, 2
cognitive impairment. The current process for medication reconciliation is to verify the patient had a
hospital stay, inform the patient of the medication reconciliation, and if they have two medication
sources. These sources include claims that the case manager can see via a computer program, and
patient has access to their bottles or discharge medication list. The case manager then brings the
pharmacist on the line to complete the medication reconciliations. Errors can occur if only using claims
, 3
and bottles because discontinued medications can be missed. The process for improvement would be
for the case manager to have access to the discharge medication list.
Electronic Medical Records
I follow up with patients after they have been discharged from the hospital. One of the
requirements is having a pharmacist complete a medication reconciliation. The largest barrier is that the
case manager often cannot see the discharge medication list to confirm medications and complete an
accurate medication reconciliation. In order to complete the medication reconciliation the patient must
have two sources. These sources can be the discharge list, bottles or claims that can be seen from filling
medications through pharmacies. Many hospitals utilize different electronic health records that are not
always accessible. If the case manager had access to all discharge medication list the medication
reconciliation would be much easier to complete and can ensure accuracy. Quality and Safety Education
for Nurses six competencies include patient-centered care, evidence- based practice, teamwork and
collaboration, quality improvement, safety, and informatics (QSEN Institute | Quality and Safety
Education for Nurses, n.d.). Medication reconciliation, which involves talking with the patient about
their medications and making sure they understand their regimen, is an important part of patient-
centered care because it guarantees that the patient's medication regimen is accurate, current, and
safe.
During medication reconciliation, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors must efficiently collaborate
and work as a team in order to ensure that the patient's medication list is accurate and up to date.
Evidence-based practice should direct medication reconciliation. This entails making decisions regarding
a patient's medication regimen based on the best available research evidence, clinical judgment, patient
values, and preferences. Medication reconciliation can help improve patient outcomes, lower
medication errors, and raise patient satisfaction levels, all of which can lead to quality improvement in
healthcare.
NURS 4040 SCHOLARLY PROJECT PROPOSAL,
LITERATURE REVIEW, AND PICOT QUESTIONS AND
UPDATED ANSWERS 2026
Louisiana State University of Alexandria NURS 4040, Introduction to
Nursing
Scholarly Paper Proposal Assignment
The topic I wish to discuss is lack of discharge medication list needed to complete medication
reconciliation telephonically through case management, to increase patient safety, medication errors
and decrease rehospitalization. Medication reconciliation is the process of determining which list of
medications a patient is currently taking is the most accurate, and then using that list to provide patients
with the right medications wherever in the health system. Inadequate medication reconciliation can
result in unintentional medication discrepancies, which can be dangerous for patient safety (Baughman
et al., 2021).
It should be performed at every transition of care when new medications are ordered or
existing orders are rewritten in order to prevent medication errors such as omissions, duplications,
dosing errors, or drug interactions (Lester et al., 2019).
In my current position, it is frequently difficult to complete the required medication
reconciliation due to the case manager's inability to view the discharge mediation list and the patient's
inability to complete the medication reconciliation due to various factors such as decreased vision or
, 2
cognitive impairment. The current process for medication reconciliation is to verify the patient had a
hospital stay, inform the patient of the medication reconciliation, and if they have two medication
sources. These sources include claims that the case manager can see via a computer program, and
patient has access to their bottles or discharge medication list. The case manager then brings the
pharmacist on the line to complete the medication reconciliations. Errors can occur if only using claims
, 3
and bottles because discontinued medications can be missed. The process for improvement would be
for the case manager to have access to the discharge medication list.
Electronic Medical Records
I follow up with patients after they have been discharged from the hospital. One of the
requirements is having a pharmacist complete a medication reconciliation. The largest barrier is that the
case manager often cannot see the discharge medication list to confirm medications and complete an
accurate medication reconciliation. In order to complete the medication reconciliation the patient must
have two sources. These sources can be the discharge list, bottles or claims that can be seen from filling
medications through pharmacies. Many hospitals utilize different electronic health records that are not
always accessible. If the case manager had access to all discharge medication list the medication
reconciliation would be much easier to complete and can ensure accuracy. Quality and Safety Education
for Nurses six competencies include patient-centered care, evidence- based practice, teamwork and
collaboration, quality improvement, safety, and informatics (QSEN Institute | Quality and Safety
Education for Nurses, n.d.). Medication reconciliation, which involves talking with the patient about
their medications and making sure they understand their regimen, is an important part of patient-
centered care because it guarantees that the patient's medication regimen is accurate, current, and
safe.
During medication reconciliation, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors must efficiently collaborate
and work as a team in order to ensure that the patient's medication list is accurate and up to date.
Evidence-based practice should direct medication reconciliation. This entails making decisions regarding
a patient's medication regimen based on the best available research evidence, clinical judgment, patient
values, and preferences. Medication reconciliation can help improve patient outcomes, lower
medication errors, and raise patient satisfaction levels, all of which can lead to quality improvement in
healthcare.
