Barriers that Preventing the Nursing Staff from Reporting Medication Errors in Kirkuk City Hospitals

Abstract

Background: reporting medication administering errors (MAEs) among nursing staff can improve patient's safety and quality of nursing care.

Objectives: to assess the causes of medication errors as well as barriers to report (MAEs).

Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out at Kirkuk city hospitals. From the period August 1st 2016 until of February 1st, 2017. A non-probability (convenience) sample of (150) nurses working at Kirkuk city hospitals was used. The tool used in the study called Medication Administration Errors (MAEs) Reporting Questionnaire was developed by Wakefield et al. It consisted of three parts. The data was collected by self-reporting technique. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis.

Conclusions: the study concluded that most of nurses report that pharmacy reasons and medication packaging reasons leading to medication errors. Also the result of the study revealed that the most common barriers to report medication errors were fear reason and administrative reason.

Recommendation: Administrative systems should support nurses, pharmacists, or physicians to report medication errors the when errors occurs