The STEPs educational framework for medicines management: using mnemonics to reduce harm

Evidence suggests that avoidable medication-related harm continues to be an ongoing concern and that educational strategies are needed to standardise and support nurses in developing pharmacovigilance. This article introduces the STEPs framework for medicines management, which uses mnemonics to provide an easy-to-remember, standardised structure for nurses to develop their vigilance in promoting accurate medication administration, preparation, double-checking, and response to medication errors/complications. The authors hope that nurse educators will incorporate the framework into preregistration nursing programmes to promote safe medication administration in the initial stages of a nurse's career.