Impact of Structured Nursing Education on Medication Administration Errors in Public Sector Hospitals

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medication administration errors remain a major patient safety concern, particularly in public sector hospitals where high workload and limited training opportunities may compromise safe practices. Nurses play a pivotal role in medication delivery, making targeted educational strategies essential for reducing preventable errors and improving healthcare quality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a structured nursing education program on medication administration errors among nurses working in public sector hospitals.

METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in selected public sector hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan, between February and September 2023. A total of 104 registered nurses completed both baseline and post-intervention assessments. Medication administration errors were measured using a validated assessment tool and observational checklist covering the five rights of medication administration, dose calculation, timing, documentation, and infection control practices. The intervention consisted of a four-week structured education program delivered through interactive sessions and supervised practice. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The mean overall medication administration error score significantly decreased from 6.74 ± 2.08 at baseline to 5.18 ± 1.86 after the intervention (p < 0.001). Significant reductions were observed across all domains, including five rights violations, dose calculation errors, timing errors, and documentation lapses. Observational findings showed marked improvements in hand hygiene compliance (64.4% to 85.6%) and correct patient identification practices (71.2% to 88.5%).

CONCLUSION: Structured nursing education was effective in reducing medication administration errors and improving safe medication practices in public sector hospitals. Incorporating such programs into routine in-service training may enhance patient safety and healthcare quality in resource-limited settings.

KEY TERMS: Education, Medication Errors, Nursing Education, Patient Safety, Public Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Pakistan