[Perception of the safe administration of medications in primary care]

The purpose of this study was to know the perception of nurses about safety in the preparation and administration of medications in a primary care health department of the Spanish national health system. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Carried out in the Health Department 21 (Alicante, Spain) in the months of September to November 2021. 66 nurses, with a predominance of women (88.9%). A semi-structured interview with ten questions was used. The inclusion criterion took into account nurses with more than two years of experience working in the health center. The perception of nurses about the degree of safety in the preparation and administration of medications was evaluated. 81.9% of the sample did not report adverse events. The steps for secure administration were varied. A significant association was observed in the correct time of medication (p < 0.031) and antisepsis (p < 0.026) according to the number of nurses in the basic health areas. Our results indicate the perceptions of nurses about improvements in the degree of implementation of standards or tools for the safe administration of medications, with special attention to lack of knowledge, care overload (high patient/nurse ratio) and associated dilemmas with the notification.