Assessing the Role of "Correct-side" Verification in Clinical Drug Administration by Nurses

Abstract

Background: Errors made during the drug administration phase threaten patient safety, prolong hospital stay, and cause incorrect treatments, injuries and death. Nurses have a central role in patient safety, including medication management. Purpose: This study aims to explore nurses' needs and experiences regarding correct-side verification when administering medications in their daily practice. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 145 nurses working in a private healthcare group, using a questionnaire. Results: No statistically significant relationship was found between medication errors of nurses and demographic factors, such as gender, education level, medication management training, work experience or department of employment. However, a significant relationship was observed between medication errors and age. Approximately 20.7% of the participants reported medication error experience and 69% witnessed such errors. 98.6% of the nurses were trained in drug administration and showed competence in drug administration steps and principles. 90.3% encountered scenarios requiring party verification during drug administration and 97.2% recognized the presence of reminder materials in drug administration areas and their effectiveness in preventing errors. Conclusion: This study highlights the critical need to implement "correct-side" verification as an essential component of medication administration protocols in clinical settings. It also highlights the importance of reminder materials in reducing medication errors and demonstrates their value in improving patient safety in healthcare facilities. Implications for Nursing: This study highlights the critical role of nurses in medication safety and emphasizes the importance of implementing "correct-side" verification and using reminder materials to prevent errors and improve the quality of patient care in clinical settings. Keywords: Correct-side verification, Patient safety, Medication errors, Medication safety, Nurses.