This study aimed to identify errors type and their frequency that occur in the administration of intravenous medications. It is a cross-observational study in three units of a certain hospital. Intravenous drug doses, totaling 367, were observed and they were prepared by 35 nursing technicians. Data collection occurred from January to February, 2008. The errors were grouped into the categories medicine, patient, via, time, dose, phlebitis verification, and catheter patency. Results showed error rates in all sectors, over 80% for the categories Not conferring drug, Not evaluating the catheter patency and Not evaluating the phlebitis presence. Drug administration delayed in 69.75% of doses; probably it affected the therapeutic outcome of sodic ampicillin, furosemide, and tenoxicam. High errors rates may have caused changes in the expected therapeutic results and there may be unintended consequences to patients.
Medication errors; Nursing; Patient Safety
