OBJECTIVE: To understand the feelings of nursing professionals who have committed medication errors. METHODS: Descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. The subjects were 15 nursing professionals from a university hospital in Goiânia. Data were collected by interviews guided by a semi-structured instrument, which were recorded and analyzed according to the premises of Bardin. RESULTS: The results showed that the most common feelings are panic, despair, fear, guilt and shame, among others. The coping strategies they adopt include looking for someone to share the problem, formally communicating the error and looking for information and knowledge. CONCLUSION: Hospitals should not ignore that human beings can err, but turn this into a motive to implement systemic strategies, such as the review of medication processes, ideal work conditions, psychological support and investment in continuing education.
Medication errors; Nurses; Feelings; Behavior