Medication errors, routines, and differences between perioperative and non-perioperative nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Perioperative medication errors persist despite ongoing efforts to mitigate them.
• These errors pose a significant risk to patient safety within the surgical environment.
• Understanding the root causes and perceptions surrounding these errors is crucial for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine nurses' accounts of perioperative medication errors.
• To identify the types, causes, and contributing factors of these errors.
• To compare perceptions of medication errors between perioperative and non-perioperative nurses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of written accounts from 27 nurses (16 discussing errors, 11 providing additional context).
• Exploration of medication errors in preoperative, intraoperative, and "close call" scenarios.
• Comparative analysis of attitudes between perioperative and non-perioperative nursing staff.

Main Results:

• Preoperative medication errors were the most frequently reported type.
• Common causes identified include production pressure, complacency, and deviation from routines.
• Self-blame and inter-unit communication gaps were also noted.
• Similarities and differences in error perception were found between perioperative and non-perioperative nurses.

Conclusions:

• Perioperative medication errors are multifactorial, influenced by systemic and individual factors.
• Addressing production pressures, reinforcing routines, and improving inter-unit communication are vital.
• Further research into nursing education and healthcare system influences is warranted.