Factors Influencing Medication Administration Errors as Perceived by Nurses in Pediatric Units in a Jordanian Tertiary Hospital: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization declared that medication errors are the third largest global patient safety challenge. The medication administration stage is a common and susceptible stage for medical errors to occur. Objective: To explore the factors contributing to medication administration errors specifically in pediatric care units as perceived by nurses in a Jordanian hospital. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted involving face-to-face audio-recorded interviews with 9 nurses in a tertiary hospital located in the north of Jordan. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants of our study. Data were collected between October 2022 and November 2022. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged affecting medication administration errors in pediatric care units. These were environmental, staff, parents and patient, and medication-related factors. Conclusion: The findings of this study raise awareness of the most frequent sources of medication errors in a Jordanian hospital. Holding training and supervision to raise awareness among nurses and the availability of equipment and supplies could improve medication safety practices.