Reasons and context for disrupting nurses during the administration of medicines

Introduction: Administering medication is one of the riskiest operations in healthcare. This research aims to map the reasons and context for disrupting nurses while administering medicines in selected inpatient wards of 4 hospitals in South Bohemia. Methods: We used the method of directly observing general and practical nurses while administering drugs - in selected internal and surgical wards and long-term care and rehabilitation wards. The data was collected in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Results: 18,370 inpatient medicine administrations were observed during the morning, midday, and evening administrations. 58 nurses from 4 hospitals, with an average age of 37.4, participated in the research. We recorded 791 interruptions. The most common reasons were patient questions and work communication, but we also recorded interruptions unrelated to nursing care. Conclusion: Due to the lack of strategies, we recommend introducing preventive measures and educational interventions in the monitored hospitals to reduce disruption while nurses are administering medicinal products, and thus improve the quality and safety of the nursing care provided.