Rational and Safe Use of Medicines: practices of primary health care nurses

Introduction: Medication safety is a key component in the quality of healthcare. In primary healthcare, nurses play a central role in implementing medication error prevention practices, although some difficulties persist in complying with standards relating to the Rational and Safe Use of Medicines. Objective: To understand the practices of nurses in the Rational and Safe Use of Medicines who work in primary health care. Methods: This descriptive study used both a quantitative and qualitative approach. A questionnaire was administered to nurses working in primary health care in Portugal, using a snowball sampling technique. Results: Despite evidence of adherence to practices that promote the rational and safe use of medication, non-conformities were found in more than half of the nurses' practices, and gaps in nurses' knowledge regarding fundamental concepts for medication safety management were also identified. Conclusion: Although there are practices aligned with the principles of rational and safe use of medicines, challenges related to formative gaps persist, which can compromise the effectiveness of care and patient safety.