Preventing Medication Errors

Abstract Background: Medication errors are multifactorial incidents affecting patients, providers, and healthcare institutions. Objective: This literature review seeks to explore some of the reasons they occur, strategies currently used to prevent them, and explore nursing knowledge, attitude, and skills (KAS) as they relate to medication safety. Method: The research was conducted using the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project as the conceptual framework in evaluating current literature to gain insight into the KAS of nurses currently practicing in critical care settings. Articles were pulled from various databases including PubMed, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and ProQuest. Results: A total of 12 articles were utilized in this review meeting all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Variables contributing to the occurrence of medication errors included workload, shift worked, experience, institutional policies, and culture of safety. Some traditional and nontraditional strategies were revealed and show statistical relevance by having positive correlations towards decreasing the occurrence of medication errors. Strategies included double-checking systems, non-reliance on memory, limiting or removing distractions, and therapeutic relationships with all member of the health team including patients and family. Conclusion: Evaluations of current nurses KSA surrounding medication-related content gives insight to useful teaching points for new nurses entering the profession. Subsequent research on the practicality of preventive strategies would contribute to more insight into why nurses deviate from protocols when administering medications. Keywords: Medication errors, Safety, QSEN, Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Nursin