Nurses' Perceptions, Attitudes, and Recommendations Concerning Medication Waste in Health Care Facilities: A Survey of Lower Mainland Nurses.

BACKGROUND

Medication waste in health care settings contributes to environmental harm and health care costs. As key players in medication administration and disposal, nurses are well positioned to identify and mitigate waste, yet limited research has explored the perspectives of nurses working in health care facilities.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the beliefs, attitudes, experiences, and recommendations of nurses in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia concerning medication waste in health care facilities and to identify opportunities for effective reduction of medication waste.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025 among registered/licensed nurses working at Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Providence Health Care facilities. The 17-item questionnaire explored attitudes toward medication waste, perceived barriers to and facilitators of waste reduction, and suggestions for reduction strategies. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1001 eligible responses were analyzed. Although 91% (908/997) of respondents acknowledged medication waste in their workplace, only 27% (244/889) felt empowered to reduce it. Key barriers included lack of clear policies, limited training, and time constraints. Wastage of partial doses-particularly narcotics, insulin, and parenteral medications-was perceived as a major contributor. Respondents recommended optimizing dosage forms, enabling safe take-home of remaining medications, and revising return and reuse protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite high awareness, many respondents felt unsupported in reducing medication waste. Revised policies, targeted education, and systems-level interventions are needed to enable sustainable medication practices. Future research should quantify waste associated with narcotics, insulin, and parenteral medications.