Strategies to minimize medication errors in emergency units: an integrative review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Medication errors pose a significant risk in emergency units.
• Effective strategies are crucial for improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nursing-led strategies for reducing medication errors in emergency settings.
• To identify evidence-based interventions for enhancing medication safety.

Main Methods:

• Integrative literature review across major databases (PubMed, BDenf, Cochrane, LILACS).
• Inclusion of full-text articles, without language or time restrictions, addressing medication error reduction.

Main Results:

• Educational strategies: campaigns, manuals, multidisciplinary committees for adverse drug event prevention.
• Organizational strategies: meetings, positive deviance reporting, protocol development, work process adjustments.
• Technological advancements: computerized prescribing, unit dose systems, barcode administration.

Conclusions:

• Identified strategies demonstrate effectiveness in minimizing medication errors within emergency units.
• Implementation of these multifaceted approaches is key to improving patient safety.