Communication Breakdowns and Medication Errors: the Critical Role of Nurses in Safeguarding Patient Safety through Effective Inter professional Collaboration and Practice

Abstract

Abstract : Medication errors continue to be a significant threat to patient safety worldwide, often resulting from communication breakdowns among healthcare providers. Nurses, as frontline healthcare professionals, play a pivotal role in preventing such errors by ensuring clear, accurate, and timely communication within multidisciplinary teams. This paper explores the relationship between communication failures and medication errors, emphasizing the essential role nurses play in mitigating these risks. The paper discusses current challenges in communication, reviews literature on nurse-driven interventions, and analyzes the scope for improving patient safety through enhanced communication strategies. Ultimately, this study advocates for strengthening nurses’ communication competencies and institutional support systems to reduce medication errors and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Medication errors, communication breakdown, nurses, patient safety, interprofessional collaboration, healthcare communication, nursing interventions