Definitions of medical administration errors (MAEs) used in the study
| Type of MAE | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wrong administration rate | Patient receives IV fluid at a rate that is faster or slower than the rate prescribed. |
| Dose omission | Patient does not receive his/her IV fluid due to failure to replace the empty IV fluid bag or failure to refill the burette. |
| Extra/unordered fluid | Patient receives IV fluid after the order was cancelled, put on hold, or for which the physician did not write a prescription. |
| Wrong fluid | Patient receives IV fluid which deviates from the IV fluid prescribed by the physician. |
| Wrong patient | IV fluid prepared for one patient is administered to another patient. |
| Wrong electrolyte | Patient receives an electrolyte which deviates from the electrolyte prescribed by the physician. |
| Electrolyte omission | An electrolyte prescribed by the physician is not added to the IV fluid. Should the electrolyte be available in a premixed fluid (e.g. 0.9% sodium chloride infusion with 20 mmol/l potassium chloride), the error would be classified as a wrong fluid. |
| Extra/unordered electrolyte | Patient receives an electrolyte for which the physician did not write a prescription. Should the electrolyte be available in a premixed fluid (e.g. 0.9% sodium chloride infusion with 20 mmol/l potassium chloride), the error would be classified as a wrong fluid. |
| Wrong concentration | Patient receives an electrolyte at a concentration that is greater or less than the concentration prescribed. The correct amount of electrolyte is added to a wrong volume of fluid running at the correct rate. |
| Wrong dose | Patient receives an amount of electrolyte that is greater or less than the amount prescribed. The volume of fluid being administered is correct and the infusion is running at the correct rate. |