title: The relationship between the nursing work environment and the occurrence of reported paediatric medication administration errors: a pan canadian study.
abstract: Paediatric medication administration errors (PMAEs) occur frequently, with devastating consequences for children and their families. This study explored the relationship between the nursing work environment and the occurrence of reported PMAEs. In total, 127 potential and 245 actual PMAEs were reported. Workload, distraction, and ineffective communication were identified as significant contributors to the occurrence of PMAEs. Medical/surgical units reported more errors than critical care environments (p=.000) and a 2.9% increase in the frequency of reported PMAEs was noted for each additional bed on units (p=.001). This study supports the awareness that a systems reform is required to reduce PMAEs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. kim.sears@queensu.ca
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien-Pallas
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Gail Tomblin
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000451:nursing* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data