Medication errors involving wrong administration technique.

Abstract

Wrong administration technique has consistently been one of the most harmful types of medication error in health systems participating in MEDMARX. Administration technique errors typically are made by nurses administering medications on the patient care unit, although errors in administration technique also occur in other phases of medication use and involve other health care personnel and locations. The most commonly reported causes of error have been performance deficit, failure to follow procedures or protocols, and knowledge deficit. Educating and training health care personnel on proper administration techniques and use of infusion pumps and dispensing devices could reduce the risk of error. The drug products most often associated with administration technique errors and patient harm could be targeted in staff education and training programs.