• To recognise that medication errors are a leading cause of avoidable harm and injury in healthcare
• To identify the importance of encouraging nurses to report medication errors and supporting those who are involved in incidents to enable meaningful learning
• To be aware of a standardised and robust process to support nurses involved in medication errors
Preventable medication-related incidents are a reality during an inpatient stay. While most incidents are intercepted, some reach the patient and can result in varying degrees of harm.
This article reports on a quality improvement project aimed at improving the process of supporting nurses after medication-related incidents have occurred on a paediatric intensive care unit. The process provides a robust system for all involved and recognises the importance of patient safety. It has been well received by the managers using it and the nurses who were supported through the process. It is now embedded in practice and is perceived by staff to be fair and proportionate.
Nursing Children and Young People. 32, 2, 16-21. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1230
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Coulson S (2020) A process for supporting children’s nurses after medication errors. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1230
Published online: 20 January 2020
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