[The most common errors and risk factors in the administration of medicines at basic health units]

The present study identified and analyzed the opinions of nurses and nursing professionals about the more common risk factors regarding errors in medicine administration as well as the consequences, interventions and measures to minimize this problem. Therefore, the authors applied an instrument of data collection with questions on the opinions of the nursing professionals who work at the Basic Health Units from a city of the state of São Paulo. Results showed that the risk factors associated to the professional were lack of attention and difficulty to understand medical prescriptions. The interventions were related to punishment and education and the proposals to minimize the occurrences were orientation and up-date of the involved professionals.