Reducing Inpatient Medication Administration Errors

Course overview

Medication administration errors are the most frequent types of nursing errors in US hospitals. These errors can be costly in terms of added healthcare expenses and medical liability payments. They can be emotionally devastating to caring and conscientious nurses who inadvertently commit them. This monograph examines some of the triggers for medication mistakes such as interruptions, communication problems, workflow inefficiencies, poorly configured electronic tools and inadequate policies for high alert medications. It gives strategies to help reduce medication administration errors, thereby promoting patient safety.