Keywords
Nurses
Patient Safety
Risk Factor
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Medication administration errors (MAEs) can have severe consequences; not only put patients at risk but impact the perfection of individual for the healthcare system. In the United States alone, these errors contribute to approximately 1.3 million cases related to morbidity of patient each year. These error may result in the need for extra treatments, longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and, in some cases, even death. Nurses are a key part of the medication delivery process, overseeing everything from preparation to administration. However, this process is intricate and vulnerable to mistakes at multiple stages.
Objective: To determine the frequency and contributing factors of medication administration errors among nurses in a tertiary care hospital.
Methodology; this is a cross sectional study, conducted at Peoples Medical College hospital, using the non-probability convenience sample technique, and 200 nurses participated in the study.
Results: The majority of participants, 109 (54.5%), were aged between 31 and 40 years, followed by 61 (30.5%) in the next age group. Regarding gender distribution, 116 (58%) were male, while 84 (42%) were female. Most respondents, 112 (56%), held a Diploma in Nursing. A significant portion of participants, 122 (61%), reported frequent interruptions during medication administration, and 182 (91%) reported feeling rushed both findings were statistically significant (p = .002 and p = .041, respectively). Furthermore, 120 (60%) acknowledged having experienced a near miss or medication error, which was also statistically significant (p = .035).
Conclusion: This study concluded several contributing factors to MAEs among nurses at PMCH Nawabshah. Furthermore, frequent interruptions and feelings of being rushed during medication administration were common and statistically significant, and suggesting these are major contributors to MAEs.