Medication errors: conducts and preventive proposals in the perspective of a nursing team

Abstract

 This study identified, through reports of a nursing team, nursing conducts towards medication errors and actions proposed to minimize these errors. This cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study was performed in a hospital in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil. The sample comprised 36 nursing professionals. Data were collected in September 2006, using a questionnaire with open and closed questions. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. Punishment was the main nursing conduct and actions nursing professionals proposed to minimize errors were mainly directed at nursing professionals themselves (48.15%) to the detriment of actions direction at the medication system (11.1%). In that context, it is known that human beings are fallible and, therefore, mistakes are often found in health care. Although they cannot be eliminated, they can be minimized or prevented through strategies directed at the medication system.

Key words: Medication errors; Nursing team; Medication systems.