ASSESSING NURSES KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MEDICATIONS ERRORS IN THE PEDIATRIC UNITS OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/HM.V11.I1.2025.171-178Keywords:
Medication errors, nursing knowledge, pediatric care, drug administration, patient safetyAbstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate pediatric nurses' knowledge regarding medication errors and to identify the key factors contributing to drug administration mistakes in pediatric units.
Background: Pediatric patients are highly vulnerable to medication errors due to their unique physiological characteristics, weight variations, and developmental stages. These errors pose serious risks to patient safety, making it essential for nurses to have adequate pharmacological knowledge.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals with a total sample of 80 nurses. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results: Knowledge assessment revealed that 37.5% of nurses had fair knowledge of medication errors, 35.0% had poor knowledge, and only 27.5% had good knowledge. The most common type of error reported was incorrect dosage.
Conclusions: The results indicate that pediatric nurses have gaps in pharmacological knowledge, particularly in high-alert medication administration and dosage calculations. Targeted educational interventions, including workshops and continuous training programs, are recommended to improve medication safety in pediatric care.
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