Medication errors, whether fatal or nonfatal, represent a significant challenge in healthcare delivery. These errors impose substantial physical, psychological, and financial burdens on patients and can seriously undermine their trust and satisfaction with healthcare providers and systems. This article examines the causes of medication errors and explores strategies to prevent them in both clinical and hospital settings.
Importantly, the issue of medication errors extends beyond physicians it involves all healthcare professionals who prescribe, dispense, or administer medications, including nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers. In nursing education, the concept of the “Five Rights” of medication administration is emphasized: the right drug, the right patient, the right dose, the right route, and the right time. These principles are essential for ensuring drug efficacy and safety.…
