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

Abstract

Nahla Shaaban Khalil, Marwa M.Abd-elbaky, Naser Mohamed Taha and AL Shimaa Moustafa

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 un- satisfactory. 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 nurse- patients 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 medica- tions and double check of administered medication.

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