title: Medication governance: preventing errors and promoting patient safety.
abstract: This article highlights the significance of medication errors, identifying potential issues and support systems required. Medication errors involve different health professionals and present at various stages of the medication cycle. Focusing on a collaborative approach and the role of the nurse is necessary. Special groups, particularly older adults, are considered where multiple conditions and multiple medications increase the risk of adverse drug reactions. Nurses' accountability and their knowledge of medications are taken into account along with the role of nurse educators. Reporting errors is crucial; the culture of the organisation significantly contributes to whether errors are reported. Learning arises from near misses and errors, enabling preventive measures to be put in place. There is a need for a culture of safety within organisations where medication governance promotes patient safety and the provision of high-quality care.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Health Sciences and Social Care, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Mayo Campus, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012308:Risk Management; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Accountability; Medication errors; Medication governance; Patient safety; Reporting