What is one common cause of medication errors?

Inaccurate transcription is a common cause of medication errors because it can occur at various stages in the medication management process. This can happen when prescriptions are written down incorrectly, whether by hand or during the electronic input, leading to a misunderstanding of the medication name, dosage, or administration instructions. For example, if a nurse misreads a physician’s orders, or mistakenly transcribes a medication from one system to another, it can result in administering the wrong drug, wrong dosage, or wrong frequency to a patient, which can have serious consequences.

In contrast, excessive documentation can be necessary for patient safety and compliance but does not inherently lead to errors unless it creates confusion. Correct reading of the label is essential for safe medication administration and generally acts as a safeguard against errors. While thorough patient preparation is crucial for administering medications safely, it does not directly contribute to incorrect transcription, which is specifically a miscommunication issue regarding the medication itself.