Medication error

Definition

A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient, or consumer. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication process, from prescribing to administration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Medication errors can occur at any point in the drug administration process, including prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, and administering.
2. Common causes of medication errors include miscommunication among healthcare providers, poor handwriting, and confusion due to similar drug names.
3. The consequences of medication errors can range from no harm to serious adverse effects and even death.
4. Nurses play a critical role in preventing medication errors by double-checking dosages, verifying patient identities, and ensuring proper documentation.
5. Reporting and analyzing medication errors are essential steps for improving systems and preventing future mistakes.

Review Questions

• What are some common causes of medication errors?
• Why is it important for nurses to verify patient identities before administering medications?
• How can reporting and analyzing medication errors contribute to patient safety?

Related terms

Adverse Drug Reaction: An unintended and harmful response to a drug administered at normal doses.

Patient Safety: The prevention of harm to patients through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

Pharmacovigilance: The science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem.