What is the most common cause of medication errors in nursing?

Miscommunication during transitions of care is a critical factor contributing to medication errors in nursing. During transitions, such as when a patient is transferred from one unit to another or discharged from the hospital, important information about the patient's medications can be overlooked or misunderstood. This can lead to discrepancies in medication orders, incorrect dosages, or failure to continue necessary medications.

Successful communication among healthcare providers is essential to ensure that all team members have a clear understanding of the patient's medication needs and history. When this communication breaks down, it can result in significant implications for patient safety, including adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatment.

Inadequate staffing levels, while they can contribute to errors, primarily add stress and reduce the time available for nurses to perform medication administration safely, rather than being a direct cause of specific miscommunication incidents. Similarly, while failing to check patient allergies and overdosing can lead to serious complications, they are generally less common as primary causes of errors compared to the significant impact of miscommunication during critical care transitions.