Competency-Based Medication Administration and Error Reporting

Accuracy is needed with medication administration, a skill that involves rule-based habits and clinical reasoning. This pilot study investigated the use of an evidence-based checklist for accuracy with oral medication administration and error reporting among prelicensure nursing students. Checklist items were anchored in the mnemonic C-MATCH-REASON^© (Client, Medication, ADRs, Time, Client History, Route, Expiration date, Amount, Site, Outcomes, Notation).

Nineteen participants randomly assigned to crossover sequence AB or BA (A: checklist; B: no checklist) practiced simulation scenarios with embedded errors. Nursing faculty used an observation form to track error data.

Using the C-MATCH-REASON^© checklist compared with not using the checklist supported rule adherence (p = .005), knowledge-based error reduction (p = .011), and total error reduction (p = .010). The null hypothesis was not rejected for errors found (p = .061) nor reported (p = .144), possibly due to sample size.

C-MATCH-REASON© was effective for error reduction. Study replication with a larger sample is warranted. [.