Critical Care Nurses Practices' Errors Regarding Medication Administration in Different Critical Care Settings at a Teaching Hospital in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Background: Medication administration errors are a constant occurrence on the unit, and patient safety must be a focus. Aim: to assess Critical Care Nurses Practices' Errors Regarding Medication Administration in different critical care settings at a Teaching Hospital in Upper Egypt. Design: Descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct the current study. Settings: The study was conducted in the following critical care units affiliated to Al Minia University Hospital. The selected critical care units were; medical Intensive care, neurosurgical care, Cardiac care, chest care and finally stroke unit. Sampling: A convenient sample consisted of 60 nurses was obtained from previously mentioned settings regardless of their personal characteristics. Tools: Two tools were used; First demographic data of the studied nurses and. Second; medication administration checklist to assess nurses' practice concerning medication administration errors. Results: the observational checklist of nurses' practices in preparation and administration of medications were unsatisfactory. Moreover, the current findings revealed a positive correlation between total practice and age as well as nurses' years of experience. On the other hand, negative correlation was found between nurses’ practice and nursepatients ratio. Conclusion: practice was unsatisfactory in preparation and during administration of medications in different critical care units regardless of their demographic qualifications. Recommendations: Continuing nursing education about types of errors that occur in the use of high alert medications and double check of administered medication.