Evaluating the Report of Medication Errors and Barriers Faced by Nurses in Teaching Hospitals

Medication errors are a major challenge in hospital settings. Nurses, as the main executors of medication orders, play a pivotal role in patient safety. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of medication errors and identify barriers to error reporting among nurses in teaching hospitals of Fars Province, Iran.In this cross-sectional study (2023–2024), 400 nurses were selected through stratified random sampling from teaching hospitals in Fasa and Shiraz. Data were collected using validated questionnaires on types of medication errors, factors influencing errors, and barriers to reporting. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, stepwise multiple regression, and binary logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs).The mean age of nurses was 35.24 ± 8.52 years; 48% reported a history of medication errors. The most common errors were infusion rate errors, intramuscular injection via the intravenous route, and wrong dosage. The main barriers to reporting were fear of reporting consequences, managerial pressures, and ambiguity in the reporting process. Regression analysis showed that these three domains predicted 91% of the variance in reporting barriers (β = 0.62, 0.27, 0.18). Logistic regression indicated that greater work experience reduced the odds of medication errors (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78–0.92), while overtime hours (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08–1.23) and night shifts (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65) increased the odds.Fear of professional consequences, weak organizational safety culture, and lack of effective feedback significantly reduce nurses’ willingness to report errors. Establishing a non-punitive environment, providing timely feedback, and offering up-to-date training are essential to improve error reporting systems, enhance patient safety, and empower nursing staff.