Intravenous medication errors

Abstract

In a clinical study, it was reported that based on the number of adult patients admitted to two hospitals, medication errors amounted to almost 4,000, an alarming figure considering that many were thought to be preventable. Today's healthcare environment dictates the type of care patients receive and from whom, and the potential for medication errors. This article discusses the factors concerning the prescribing of i.v. medications, preparing the medications, and administering them competently by nurses and pharmacists.