The nurse notes that technology in the ICU increases the likelihood of errors when:

• A. It relies heavily on human decision making.
• B. Devices are programmed to function without double checks.
• C. It makes the workload seem overwhelming to health care providers.
• D. There is uniform equipment throughout each facility.

Answer: (B)

Automation in the ICU can increase the likelihood of errors when devices are programmed to function without independent double checks. If a pump or ventilator is set incorrectly and no second clinician verifies the programming, that wrong setting will be carried out by the device, delivering potentially harmful doses or settings to the patient. The double-check process serves as a safety net to catch transcription mistakes, misreadings, or calibration issues before harm occurs. When that verification step is missing, the opportunity for an error to go unnoticed grows, especially in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment.

Relying primarily on human decision making, high workload, or uniform equipment doesn’t capture the exact risk described here: standardization and human checks are safety features, and while workload and decision-making play roles in safety, the specific mechanism increasing risk is the absence of independent verification of device settings.