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Nurses' and Midwives' Perceptions of Medication Errors in Children: A Scoping Review
Abdulrahman Alhewaml1,2, Gulzar Malik1, Beverley Copnell1
1School of Nursing & Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Nursing & Health Sciences
|November 5, 2025
Summary
Nurses and midwives perceive medication errors in children occur due to workload and interruptions. Barriers to reporting include fear of consequences, highlighting a need for improved safety strategies and research into midwives' perspectives.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Medication Safety
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
Background:
- Medication errors in pediatric care pose significant risks.
- Understanding healthcare professionals' perceptions is crucial for improving safety.
- Limited research exists on midwives' perspectives regarding pediatric medication errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize literature on nurses' and midwives' perceptions of medication errors in infants and children.
- To identify factors contributing to these errors.
- To explore barriers to reporting medication errors.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.
- Searched seven databases for English-language studies.
- Data extraction and narrative synthesis by independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- 34 studies were included, with only two involving midwives, and their data were not reported separately.
- Key contributing factors included insufficient resources, interruptions, and high nurse workload.
- Barriers to reporting involved negative emotions and fear of professional repercussions.
Conclusions:
- Nurses and midwives play a vital role in pediatric medication safety.
- Administrators must address workload, resource issues, and cultural barriers.
- Further research is needed on midwives' perceptions to enhance error reporting and management.
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