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This Australian study identified and described the incidence of medication errors
among registered nurses, the type and causes of these errors and the impact that administration
of medications has on the professional practice of registered nurses. Mostly, medication
errors were attributed to documentation issues, including: illegible handwriting,
misunderstanding abbreviations, misplaced decimal point, misreading and misinterpreting
written orders. Several human factors were attributed to potential causes of medication
errors, including: stress, fatigue, knowledge and skill deficits. Environmental factors,
namely, interuptions and distractions during the administration of medications, were
also attributed to potential errors. The study found professional nursing practice
involving administration of medications had a strong education, patient and ethical
focus. Over a quarter of the respondents indicated that further training in medication
administration would positively impact on their nursing practice. The registered nurses
also highlighted they would appreciate more time to spend with patients when administering
medications. Medication errors are not the sole responsibility of any single professional
group, therefore, collaboration with other health professionals is central to establishing
processes, policies, strategies and systems that will reduce their occurrence. The
organisation and those nurses employed within it share an accountability to ensure
safe administration of medications to patients. Based on study results, several recommendations
are directed towards preventing or reducing medication errors and supporting nurses
in providing best practice.
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© 2005 Royal College of Nursing, Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
