Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence integration on medication error reduction: A nursing perspective

To systematically evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on reducing medication errors in nursing practice, focusing on tools such as clinical decision support systems (CDSS), smart infusion pumps, barcode scanning and automated prescription validation.

Medication errors are a persistent threat to patient safety and a major burden on healthcare systems. Nurses, who are central to the medication administration process, remain vulnerable to human error. AI offers new opportunities to enhance safety through real-time decision support and predictive analytics.

A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and using a mixed-methods approach to integrate quantitative outcomes with qualitative insights from nursing practice.

Studies published in English between January 2013 and March 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect and CINAHL. Eligibility was guided by the PICO framework. Quality appraisal tools appropriate to study designs were applied.

Twelve studies were included. CDSS reduced operating room errors by up to 95 %, while smart infusion pumps reduced IV medication errors by approximately 80 %. Prescription validation tools led to a 55 % reduction in prescribing errors. AI-driven alert filtering decreased non-actionable alerts by 45 %. Qualitative data revealed both appreciation of AI's utility and concerns about algorithmic bias, system usability and trust.

AI technologies significantly improve medication safety in nursing. However, successful implementation depends on nurse training, system integration, ethical safeguards and workflow alignment. Further experimental studies are needed to validate efficacy and address barriers such as alert fatigue, algorithm transparency and adoption resistance.