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. 2011 Jan-Feb;60(1):32-9.
doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181ff73cc.

Effects of learning climate and registered nurse staffing on medication errors

Yunkyung Chang  1 , Barbara Mark
Affiliations

Effects of learning climate and registered nurse staffing on medication errors

Yunkyung Chang et al. Nurs Res. 2011 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: Despite increasing recognition of the significance of learning from errors, little is known about how learning climate contributes to error reduction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether learning climate moderates the relationship between error-producing conditions and medication errors.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done using data from 279 nursing units in 146 randomly selected hospitals in the United States. Error-producing conditions included work environment factors (work dynamics and nurse mix), team factors (communication with physicians and nurses' expertise), personal factors (nurses' education and experience), patient factors (age, health status, and previous hospitalization), and medication-related support services. Poisson models with random effects were used with the nursing unit as the unit of analysis.

Results: A significant negative relationship was found between learning climate and medication errors. It also moderated the relationship between nurse mix and medication errors: When learning climate was negative, having more registered nurses was associated with fewer medication errors. However, no relationship was found between nurse mix and medication errors at either positive or average levels of learning climate. Learning climate did not moderate the relationship between work dynamics and medication errors.

Discussion: The way nurse mix affects medication errors depends on the level of learning climate. Nursing units with fewer registered nurses and frequent medication errors should examine their learning climate. Future research should be focused on the role of learning climate as related to the relationships between nurse mix and medication errors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Theoretical Framework
Figure 2
Figure 2
Moderating Effect of Learning Climate on RN Mix and Medication Errors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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