Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

1.6K

High alert medications administration errors in neonatal intensive care unit: A pediatric tertiary hospital

John Rene Labib1, Meray Rene Labib-Youssef1, Shaimaa Fatah2

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics, Cairo University, Egypt.

The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|December 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

High alert medication errors in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are common, with nurses showing better knowledge than practice. Interventions should focus on specialized training and multidisciplinary teams to improve patient safety.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nursing
  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Patient Safety

Background:

  • High alert medications (HAM) require special attention due to their potential for harm.
  • Medication administration errors (MAEs) in the NICU can have severe consequences for vulnerable neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the knowledge and administration practices of NICU nurses regarding HAM.
  • To identify common types of HAM administration errors in a pediatric tertiary hospital.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a NICU.
  • A questionnaire assessed nurses' knowledge, and an observational checklist evaluated their practices.
  • 33 NICU nurses participated in the study.

Main Results:

  • Nurses' mean knowledge score (76.2%) was higher than their mean practice score (69.1%).
  • The most frequent errors were wrong dose (15%) and wrong drug type (13.6%).
  • A gap exists between nurses' knowledge and their practical application of safe medication administration.

Conclusions:

  • Despite adequate knowledge, NICU nurses' practices indicate a need for improved HAM administration.
  • Specific training on HAM and the establishment of multidisciplinary teams are recommended to reduce errors.
  • Enhancing neonate-centered care through collaboration among physicians, nurses, and pharmacists is crucial for preventing medication errors.

Keywords:
Neonatal Intensive Carehigh alert medicationsnurses

More Related Videos

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.7K
Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit05:56

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: September 6, 2024

6.2K

Related Concept Videos

Hospitals-II00:59

Hospitals-II

Hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient services. Inpatient services provide care to patients that stay in the hospital for an extended period, ranging from days to months. Examples of inpatient services include intensive care units, hospital wards, or surgeries. Outpatient services provide care to patients who come to a hospital for a diagnostic or treatment but do not stay overnight —for example, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, or health education.
Nurses that work in...
1.2K
Hospitals-I01:28

Hospitals-I

Hospitals offer medical and surgical care to the sick and injured, along with accommodation while they recover. At the same time, they also provide outpatient, emergency, psychiatric, and rehabilitation services to meet various community needs. In addition to providing medical care, hospitals also act as hubs for medical research and training. Hospitals use clinical procedures and evidence-based practice standards to deliver patient care. To deliver safe and efficient care, a nurse must stay up...
1.6K
Tertiary Healthcare System01:21

Tertiary Healthcare System

Specialized care provided over an extended period is called tertiary care. Usually, a primary or secondary care physician will refer a patient to tertiary care. A patient's maximum physical and mental function is restored in tertiary care, which is caused due to the impact of a chronic illness or condition. Tertiary care aims to achieve the highest level of functioning possible while managing chronic illness. For example, a patient who falls and fractures their hip will need secondary care...
2.2K
Measurement: Standard Units03:38

Measurement: Standard Units

Every measurement provides three kinds of information: the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number), a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit), and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement. While the number and unit are explicitly represented when a quantity is written, the uncertainty is an aspect of the errors in the measurement results.
79.8K
Measurement: Derived Units03:02

Measurement: Derived Units

The International System of Units or SI system, by international agreement, has fixed measurement units for seven fundamental properties: length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount of substance, and luminosity. These are called the SI base units.
55.4K
Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors01:15

Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors

In the case of systematic errors, the sources can be identified, and the errors can be subsequently minimized by addressing these sources. According to the source, systematic errors can be divided into sampling, instrumental, methodological, and personal errors.
Sampling errors originate from improper sampling methods or the wrong sample population. These errors can be minimized by refining the sampling strategy. Defective instruments or faulty calibrations are the sources of instrumental...
11.0K