title: Medication Errors Involving the Intravenous Administration Route: Characteristics of Voluntarily Reported Medication Errors.
abstract: Characteristics of medication errors involving the intravenous (IV) route of administration were analyzed in reports from 1995 to 2013. This was accomplished through a voluntary medication error reporting program. A retrospective case study design analyzed reports by practitioners or consumers on IV-associated medication errors (N = 975) affecting patients. Patterns in error accounts reflected cultural changes in health care organizations. Equipment, labeling, incorrect route of administration, types of errors, patient outcomes, and causal agents represented major codes. Results point to health care provider and consumer knowledge, the need for ongoing education of nursing staff, and interdisciplinary strategies for preventing IV-associated medication errors.
authors.affiliation: LaSalle University, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Zane Robinson Wolf, PhD, RN, FAAN, is dean emerita and professor in the La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences in Philadelphia. Dr. Wolf's interest in medication errors and nurses' experience with them led to this study.
authors.forename: Zane Robinson
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies