The Role and Responsibility of Nurses in Preventing Medication Errors: A Literature Review
Keywords:
Medication Errors , Medication Administration, Nursing Interventions, Patient Safety, ResponsibilityAbstract
Background: Medication errors are preventable incidents that often occur during drug administration by nurses, posing a serious risk to patient safety. Nurses play a vital role in preventing these errors through accurate administration, patient education, and adherence to safety protocols. This review aimed to explore the roles and responsibilities of nurses in preventing medication errors and ensuring safe medication practices. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Relevant articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science (2015–2025), with inclusion criteria focusing on RCTs and quasi-experimental designs involving nursing interventions. Results: Nine studies were included, highlighting various nursing strategies such as Independent Double Check (IDC), checklist implementation, medication reconciliation, barcode scanning, educational training, and automated dispensing systems. Conclusion: Nurses have a central role and responsibility in reducing medication errors through clinical practice, patient education, adherence to protocols, and technological support. Strengthening institutional training, supervision, and nurse engagement is essential for building a sustainable culture of medication safety.
