Correlation Between Medication Safety and Work Dynamics with Nursing Medication Error

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Medication safety is paramount in patient care, as medication errors pose significant risks.
• Medication errors are a critical concern, particularly in high-acuity settings like cardiac care units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the correlation between medication safety, work dynamics, and medication error rates among nurses in cardiac care units.
• To identify factors influencing medication error rates in specialized nursing environments.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive correlational study involving 120 nurses in cardiac care units.
• Utilized validated tools: Singapore medication safety tools, Salyer work dynamics, and Wakefield medication error.
• Data analysis performed using SPSS 16 software.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant relationship was found between overall medication safety and medication error rates (p=0.221).
• No significant association was observed between work dynamics and medication error rates (p=0.136).
• Positive correlations were noted between nursing experience (r=0.225), work in cardiac care (r=0.222), and nurses' age (r=0.222) with reduced medication errors, despite confounding variables.

Conclusions:

• While medication safety and work dynamics alone may not prevent errors in cardiac care, experienced personnel contribute to enhanced safety.
• Increased nursing experience and age appear to be protective factors against medication errors in cardiac care settings.
• Further research into specific interventions targeting experienced staff may optimize medication safety protocols.