Nursing errors: A study of the current literature

Abstract

Objective: to characterize what the current literature states about nursing errors, with a specific review on how these errors are communicated to society by the media. Method: a qualitative documental research, characterized as an integrative literature review, performed using four databases and guided by a formal protocol, in the period from 2011 to 2015, by two independent collaborators. The analysis of the studies occurred through the analysis of thematic content articulated with the resources of the Atlas.ti software. Results: 32 studies were analyzed and organized into two macro categories: main errors practiced by the nursing team; reported forms of prevention to avoid errors. Such categories reveal that most of the errors are made with medication, the main causes are related to work overload and management problems, and the main sources of prevention are to improve working conditions, continuing education and safety culture. Conclusion: nursing errors are determined by multiple factors and their coping requires professional and institutional measures.