Frequency and Type of Errors and Near Errors Reported by Critical Care Nurses

Abstract

Research suggests that critically ill patients may be at high risk for medical errors. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the type and frequency of errors and near errors reported by a randomly selected sample of 502 critical care nurses. Data on errors and near errors were recorded in logbooks daily for 28 days. Over one quarter of the participants reported making an error and more than one third reported catching themselves making an error. There were 224 errors and 350 near errors reported during the study period. The most frequent type of error (56.7%) involved medication administration. Procedural errors and near errors, as well as transcription and charting errors, were also reported. These findings have significant implications for patient safety among a seriously ill population that has little natural resilience or ability to protect itself from health-care mishaps.