Evaluation of nurses' attitudes and knowledge levels regarding the safe drug use process

This study aims to evaluate the knowledge level of nurses regarding the process of safe medication use and their attitudes towards this process. Therefore, the knowledge level and attitudes of nurses on this issue stand out as a determining factor in ensuring patient safety. The study examined in detail the demographic and professional characteristics of nurses working in a private hospital, their reporting behaviors regarding medication errors, and their knowledge levels regarding medication errors. The findings of the study revealed that the vast majority of nurses received medication safety training, and that medication error reporting was considered a criterion that increased the success of healthcare services. However, it was determined that some nurses avoided reporting medication errors during the reporting process, which was due to the perception of reporting as a personal inadequacy and the concern that it could harm their professional life. The study also found that nurses who received medication safety training had higher knowledge levels. This finding shows that, in addition to the knowledge-enhancing effect of medication safety training, its effect on reporting behaviors was limited. This situation reveals that reporting processes are shaped not only by the level of knowledge but also by other factors such as professional perceptions, institutional policies and work environment. In addition, a supportive and safe work environment should be created by the hospital management to prevent error reporting from being perceived as a personal deficiency. In addition, the development of systems that provide anonymity in medication error reporting will enable nurses to report errors without hesitation.