Nursing students' medication errors and their opinions on the reasons of errors: A cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine number and type of medication administration errors made by nursing students, and to explore the rate of reportings, emotions after the errors and the causes of errors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the two schools of nursing, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey, in February 2009, and comprised students having worked in hospital settings for a minimum of one semester and who had been involved in administering medications. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 324 subjects in the study, 124(38.3%) had made an error in clinical/field applications. Overall, 402 medication administration errors had been reported of which 155 (38.6%) were detected and corrected by academic nurses. The most common error reported was deviation from aseptic technique in 96(23.8%) cases. Most common emotions resulting from errors were fear in 45(28.8%) and anxiety in 37(23.5%). Most common cause was performance deficit in 141(43.4%) cases and the most common contributing factor was workload declared by 179(55.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The error rate among nursing students was high whereas reporting of errors was low.

[The needs of the critical patients' relatives in the emergency department and how they are met]. / Acil servisteki kritik hasta yakinlarinin gereksinimleri ve karsilanma durumu.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed as a definitive study to determine the needs of the critical patient's family and whether or not these needs are met. METHODS: The study was conducted in the emergency departments (EDs) of a University and a state hospital between February-May 2007 with the families of 353 critical patients. The data was collected by face to face interview technique using the Needs of the Critically Ill Patients' Family Members in Emergency Department Scale and uestionnaires and a personal information form. RESULTS: It was determined that the patient's family valued their right and need to be informed of the patient's status and take part in their care more than their own personal needs. In a more general perspective, nine of the 10 most frequently stated needs regarded communication. It was also found that the needs to be provided by the ED staff were listed as the most important or important. CONCLUSION: Defining the needs of the family of critical patients in the ED may help raise awareness of the health care providers about this issue, thereby helping to improve the service. Support of patients' relatives in regards to their needs would increase satisfaction of the patients' relatives and the quality of care in the ED.