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Drug errors and patient safety: the need for a change in practice
1University of Luton, UK.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|March 5, 2004
Summary
Drug errors by nurses are multifaceted, stemming from calculation mistakes, dosage issues, covert administration, and a relaxed professional attitude, potentially breaching patient duty of care. Systemic approaches can help minimize these errors.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Patient Safety
- Medication Errors
Background:
- Recent concerns regarding drug errors and public safety highlighted in British media and nursing journals.
- Drug errors pose a significant risk to patient well-being and public trust in healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted reasons behind continued drug errors made by nurses.
- To examine the potential breach of legal "duty of care" due to complacent drug administration practices.
Main Methods:
- A literature review was conducted to synthesize existing research on medication errors in nursing.
- Analysis of factors contributing to drug errors, including calculation, dosage, administration methods, and professional attitudes.
Main Results:
- Drug errors are multifactorial, not attributable to a single cause.
- Identified factors include calculation errors, incorrect drug dosages (over/underdosing), covert administration in food/drink, and a relaxed professional approach to legal standards.
Conclusions:
- Nurses' complacency in drug administration may constitute a breach of their legal "duty of care" to patients.
- Systemic strategies, including proactive planning, risk identification, and anonymous incident reporting, are crucial for minimizing drug errors.