What is one potential cause of a medication error?

Reading the label incorrectly is a common potential cause of a medication error. Labels provide critical information regarding the medication, including its name, dosage, administration route, and frequency. Misinterpretation of these details can lead to administering the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage, which can have serious consequences for patient safety.

Other factors, while they may also contribute to environments where errors could occur, do not directly point to the specific, high-risk activity of misreading vital information that is usually provided in a clear format. For instance, pacing while preparing a medication might increase stress but does not by itself result in a direct error related to the medication being administered. Similarly, documenting after a long period or listening to music might impact focus or attention and could lead to errors, but incorrectly reading a label is a straightforward and tangible mistake that has immediate implications on the accuracy of medication administration.