Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to assess nurses’ levels of knowledge regarding medication errors and their views on reporting medication errors. METHODS: The research adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional design and the study sample comprised 114 nurses. Data were gathered using two assessment forms: "Views on Reporting Medication Errors" and "Assessment of Knowledge of Medication Errors". RESULTS: The mean age of nurses was 29.37±7.10 years, 51.8% of the sample completed an undergraduate nursing program. The mean score of the "Assessment of Knowledge on Medication Errors" was 82.52±17.19. Nearly all nurses (94.7%) completed training in medication safety, 78.1% of nurses perceived the act of medication error reporting as a successful criterion. In the case of reporting medication errors, 8.8% of nurses perceived that reporting medication errors can be considered a personal incompetency, 4.4% reported that it would put their job in jeopardy, and 4.4% stated it would be of no use to report errors. One out of every three nurses (28.9%) claimed any problem could be settled among themselves, 9.6% of them stated that they do not know how to report errors, and 0.9% of the nurses stated that there was no need for reporting any errors. CONCLUSION: In training sessions which encourage the staff to report medication errors for patient safety, it is important not to consider a medication error reporting system as a punishment for employees but as a crucial part of the system. It is suggested that corporate strategies be developed and training programs be planned in order to improve nurses’ skills for better reporting of medication errors.

Keywords: