Nurses' perceptions of high-alert medication administration safety: A qualitative descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Medication Administration

Background:

• High-alert medications (HAMs) require meticulous administration to prevent errors.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives on HAM administration safety is crucial for improving practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' perceptions of supports and barriers influencing the safety of high-alert medication administration.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive study was employed.
• Eighteen acute care registered nurses (RNs) were interviewed regarding HAM administration.
• Content analysis was used for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Key themes for HAM safety included organizational culture, collaboration, and RN competence.
• Distractions, workload, and acuity were identified as error factors.
• Workarounds bypassing barcode scanning and independent double checks were prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Current HAM safety strategies are inconsistently applied.
• Recommendations include fostering a supportive organizational culture, enhancing education, implementing pragmatic policies, and improving technology.
• Hospitals can reduce HAM errors by implementing these findings.