Medication errors: importance of notification in the management of patient safety

Abstract

Notifying medication errors is an important instrument in managing assistance quality and safety for the patient. The objective of this study was to verify with the nursing team their understanding that a medication error had been committed, and to observe how they notified responsible physicians of the event. To achieve this, researchers used a descriptive/exploratory survey with 89 professionals. The results demonstrate a lack of uniformity in understanding that medication errors had been committed, when these errors must be communicated to a physician, and when an event report must be filled out. The research shows the necessity to develop educational programs that shed light on exactly what constitutes a medication error, clarifying causes of the problem and providing solutions to solve it.