Effects of interruptions to nurses during medication administration.
Medication errors can occur at any stage of the medication process including prescribing, dispensing, preparation, administration and monitoring (Vincent et al 2009). Medication administration is acknowledged as a process in which patient safety can be compromised easily (Department of Health 2003) and it is argued that any distraction or interruption during medication administration can result in errors. This Policy+ reviews the contribution to medication administration errors of interruptions to nurses' work and considers how such interruptions can be reduced.
Bennett
Janette
J
National Nursing Research Unit, King's College, London.
Dawoud
Dalia
D
Maben
Jill
J
D001288:Attention; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital