Background: Medication errors can cause significant morbidity and mortality for children who admitted to pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. So, the nurse need to have a broad knowledge about prevention of medication errors in children. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an educational program for nurses regarding errors in medications administration for children. Research design: A quasi–experimental design was utilized to conduct the study. Setting: This study was conducted at inpatient pediatric department, pediatric intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit and outpatient pediatric clinic at Benha University Hospital. Subjects: Study subjects were consisted of a convenient sample of all nurses (60 nurses) who are responsible for medication administration to children and a convenient sample of all available children (60 child) through the study period for data gathering. Tools of data collection: Three tool were used: Tool I: A structured interview questionnaire to assess nurses’ knowledge, Tool II: Likert type- rating scale to assess nurses’ attitude and Tool III: Observation checklists to assess nurses’ practice regarding errors in medication administration for children Results: The majority of the studied nurses had satisfactory knowledge and majority of them had positive attitude post program implementation and three quarters of the studied nurses had competent practice post program implementation regarding errors in medication administration for children. Conclusion: The educational program for nurses was effective in improving knowledge, attitude and practice regarding errors in medication administration for children. Recommendations: Conduct educational programs about errors in medication administration for children based on actual need assessment of the nurses. |
