Medication errors: the problem and its scope

Nurses can take an important lead role in protecting their patients, their peers, and themselves from the unfortunate consequences of medication errors. Medication errors occurs for a variety of reasons, including inaccurate communications and deficits in knowledge and performance by and among all health care professionals. These problems and deficits need to be addressed. USP stresses the importance of focusing on the process or system in which the error occurred, rather than focusing blame on an individual. By acknowledging all actual and potential errors, and by consistently assessing and reassessing systems, nurses can help reduce medication errors and contribute significantly to improve patient safety.