Nurses’ experience of work interruption during the medication administration: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background & Aim: Work interruptions during medication administration increase the risk of errors, compromising patient safety and underscoring the need to examine the complex challenges nurses face in ensuring medication safety. The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ experiences with interruptions during medication administration, their sources, impacts, and how nurses responded to and managed these situations.

Methods & Materials: A qualitative design was used, and in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen nurses from tertiary hospitals in Korea using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis based on an initial coding scheme.

Results: Three main themes and 10 sub-themes emerged from the analysis. Nurses reported interruptions from various sources, including healthcare colleagues, external departments, patients and caregivers, and environmental factors. These interruptions resulted in workflow fragmentation, elevated medication error risk, and significant emotional burden. In response, nurses employed various individual coping mechanisms while also identifying the need for organizational support.

Conclusion: Interruptions during medication administration stem from multiple sources and impose significant risks for errors, workflow disruption, and emotional burden on nurses. This study suggests that context-sensitive strategies, such as standardizing communication, delegating non-urgent requests, and enhancing education for healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers, are essential to reduce avoidable interruptions while supporting safe medication practices