Interruptions experienced by nurses during preparation and administration of medications at the patient’s bedside/corridor: Duration and causes, Turkey

Abstract

Background: Nurses experience many interruptions during drug administration. Interruptions threaten the safety of patients and nurses in health institutions.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the interruptions experienced by nurses during preparation and administration of medications at the patient’s bedside/corridor in different clinics.
Methods: Interruptions was determined by several observations. Observations carried out during nurses’ medication process in internal medicine and surgical services (by two researchers). Sixty observation were made in total by two researchers.
Results: Interruptions were detected at least once in the preparations and administration process in all of the observations. The interruption frequency in preparation, administration and the whole process were statistically significant different between the services. The interruptions in the general surgery service were higher than the internal medicine service. The interruption frequency was significantly higher during the preparation process in internal medicine service and administration process in general surgery service.
Conclusions: Interruptions during nurses’ medication process at the patient’s bedside or in the corridor was commonly observed, especially in the general surgery service.