Medication Errors

Medication error definition

Inappropriate use of a medication that could lead to patient harm.

Causes of medication errors

Rules-based errors (administering outside scope of practice), knowledge-based errors (choosing the wrong medication), and skills-based errors (using incorrect equipment or procedure).

Immediate response to an error

Provide any necessary patient care promptly, notify medical control, and follow local protocols.

Documentation and communication

Document the incident thoroughly, accurately, and honestly; discuss with partner, supervisor, or medical director.

Learning opportunity

Use the incident to learn how to prevent future errors and identify areas for agency quality improvement.