Preventing medication errors

■ Describe the consequences and costs of medication errors. ■ Cite the incidence of hospital injuries and deaths attributable to medication errors. ■ Explore evidence and rationale for the underreporting of medication errors. ■ Name the steps involved in medication administration. ■ Identify six common causes of medication errors. ■ Identify the role of the nurse in preventing medication errors. ■ Describe the role of technology and health care administration in medication error prevention. ■ Recognize examples of prescription, transcription, and recording notation errors. ■ Correct medical notation errors. ■ Describe the requirements of The Joint Commission to prevent medication errors. ■ Provide a sound rationale for the critical nature of medication administration and the importance of accurate and safe dosage calculations and medication administration.