Investigating the Frequency and Causes of Nursing Errors and their Relationship with Occupational Stress in Nurses of Sirjan Hospitals During the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak

Background: During the outbreak of infectious diseases, the occurrence of numerous psychological reactions in nursing personnel is likely to increase, affecting their mental health. The present study aims to investigate the frequency and causes of nursing errors and their relationship with occupational stress in nurses of Sirjan hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study conducted in 2021, 301 nurses from Sirjan hospitals were included in the study as census. The individual and occupational characteristics information questionnaire, the Nursing Errors Questionnaire, and the Osipow’s Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 19. Results: According to the results of this study, 41.2% of nurses reported their occupational stress to be severe. Illegibility of the doctor’s medication orders (46.8%), Giving the wrong medicine to the patient (46.2%) were the most common nursing errors. Based on the results, 68.4% of nurses reported the lack of nurses as the most common cause of nursing errors. Also, regarding the relationship between each part of the nursing error questions with the occupational stress mean scores, reading medication orders incorrectly (P=0.008) and sending the wrong blood sample (P=0.002) had a significant relationship. Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of occupational stress and nursing errors, nurses should work in a calm environment that makes appropriate nursing interventions possible and avoids ward overcrowding. Furthermore, nursing managers should act to provide necessary standards, such as appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio and continuous training on infusing drugs.