Medication Errors: Perceptions and views of overseas trained nurses working in New Zealand

Abstract

Medication errors are a global problem. Medication errors not only affect patients and organisations, but can have long lasting effects on the health care providers. This thesis explores the perceptions and views of overseas nurses in reporting medication errors and the factors influencing the decision of reporting medication errors. This research study utilised a qualitative research methodology using narrative inquiry to capture the perceptions and in-depth views of overseas nurses working in New Zealand. Data collection was done by using a semi-structured interview guide to capture in-depth information from eight participants meeting the inclusion criteria for this research. The interviews were then transcribed by the researcher and analysed using thematic analysis. The three major themes identified from the analysis of the findings were 1) Personal factors, 2) Environmental factors, and 3) Organisational factors. A frame work was developed from the findings of this study that represented the factors that influenced overseas nurses’ perceptions and views of the culture of safety in medication error reporting. These three aspects were the nurses’ schemata, environmental considerations and organisational support. It was identified from the study that nurses’ schemata play a key role in addressing the issues of reporting medication errors. Even though findings of this study indicate that there are more similarities between overseas nurses and the locally trained nurses in light of literature, this study found that overseas nurses’ schemata strongly influenced their decision on whether to report or not report medication errors. The findings of this study has important research and practice implications and it is recommended that organisations would benefit from having induction programmes that address these needs to achieve positive outcomes and reduce medication errors by increasing nurses’ confidence and competence in safe medication administration..