Examining the relationship between nurse fatigue, alertness, and medication errors.
Healthcare provider fatigue has been associated with adverse events such as medication errors. This study examines the association of fatigue and alertness with medication errors and near misses in hospital nurses. Alertness was continuously measured via a wearable sleep and activity monitor (actigraph), and fatigue was self-reported with ecological momentary assessments via text messages. Nurse fatigue, but not alertness, was associated with self-reported medication errors and near misses.