BCMA
Medical abbreviation · Nursing
| Stands for | Barcode medication administration |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
BCMA stands for Barcode medication administration, a nursing abbreviation.
Safety process in which the nurse scans the patient's wristband and each medication's barcode before giving it, so the system can confirm right patient, drug, dose, route and time. Mismatches trigger alerts.
Example: BCMA alert: dose already given at 0800, scan stopped duplicate administration.
Usage notes
A 2010 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found BCMA with an eMAR reduced non-timing administration errors by roughly 40 percent. Workarounds, such as scanning copied wristbands or overriding alerts, undermine the benefit and are tracked by many hospitals.
Related abbreviations
More nursing abbreviations
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- A&Ox4 – Alert and oriented times four
- AAT – Activity as tolerated
- ADAT – Advance diet as tolerated
- ADPIE – Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
- amb – Ambulate (ambulatory)
- BR – Bed rest
- BRP – Bathroom privileges
- BS – Blood sugar
- BSC – Bedside commode
- C&DB – Cough and deep breathe
- C/D/I – Clean, dry and intact
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.