The characteristics of rational drug use and tendency to medical errors among nurses working in children's clinics.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rational drug use and medical error tendency characteristics of pediatric nurses working in pediatric clinics within public and private hospitals in Mardin province and its districts.

METHODOLOGY: This study, which was planned as a cross-sectional study, was conducted with 180 nurses working in pediatric clinics. "Questionnaire Form on the Characteristics of Nurses and Their Rational Drug Use and Medical Error Tendencies in Pediatric Clinics", "Rational Drug Use Scale" and "Medical Error Tendency Scale in Nursing" were used for data collection.

RESULTS

In this study, the mean score of rational drug use of pediatric nurses was 38.21 ± 4.21; the mean score of Medical Error Tendency was 231.55 ± 16.54. According to these findings, it was determined that the pediatric nurses participating in the study had knowledge about rational drug use and had a low tendency to make medical errors. It was determined that pediatric nurses who graduated from high school, worked as responsible nurses, preferred to work in pediatric clinics, and cared for the least number of patients in the clinic had low tendency toward medical errors.

CONCLUSION

It was found that pediatric nurses had knowledge of rational drug use and had a low tendency to make medical errors. In line with this result, it was recommended that in-clinic training should be provided on these issues and the issue should be investigated with a larger sample in order to increase the reporting of problems related to rational drug use and medical errors by pediatric nurses.