Nurses' sleep quality and medication administration errors: A cross-sectional study based on the ten rights framework

Medication errors are among the most common causes of preventable harm in healthcare, and nurses' sleep quality is a critical factor influencing these errors. Understanding how sleep quality affects adherence to the "Ten Rights" of medication administration is essential for improving patient safety. This study aimed to examine the effect of nurses' sleep quality on medication administration errors within the framework of the "Ten Rights" of medication administration. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Türkiye. A total of 217 nurses voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, a medication administration errors form, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Reporting followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. The nurses' mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was 9.24 ± 3.35, indicating poor overall sleep quality. Sleep quality significantly differed by gender, marital status, and parental status, and it was poorer among nurses working more than 72 hours per month or those who reported medication errors within the last 6 months. The most common errors were administering medication without knowledge of its side effects and failing to inform patients about their medication. Nurses experiencing low sleep quality demonstrated a significantly increased likelihood of committing errors related to the right time and frequency, right documentation, and right evaluation principles. Poor sleep quality among nurses may be associated with certain medication administration errors. Supporting nurses' sleep health may contribute to medication safety and the overall quality of patient care.