This course explains why medication errors happen, what you must do when one occurs, and how to show a regulator or employer that you have understood the error and changed your practice. It ends with a guided reflection and a personal remediation plan you can place in your portfolio.
What you will learn
- Describe the main types of medication error across prescribing, dispensing, preparation, administration and monitoring.
- Explain the human factors and system factors that make medication errors more likely.
- Take the correct immediate steps after a medication error, including escalation, documentation, incident reporting and the duty of candour.
- Explain what regulators mean by insight and how it is assessed after a medicines-related concern.
- Write a structured reflection and a remediation plan with evidence that is specific, measurable and sustained.
Course content
- Why medication errors matter (2 min)
- Types of medication error (4 min)
- Why errors happen: human and system factors (3 min)
- What to do immediately after an error (3 min)
- What regulators expect: insight and remediation (2 min)
- Case study: a weak and a strong reflection (2 min)
- Building your remediation plan (2 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), including the sections on medicines, record keeping, openness when things go wrong, and reducing harm
- GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024) and Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices
- GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017)
- HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024)
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
Related guides
Medication Error Reflection: A Worked Example for Nurses
A medication error reflection example for nurses: what to do first, how to structure your reflection, a weak vs strong version, and how to show real learning.
How to Build a Remediation Plan That Shows Real Change
How to build a remediation plan as a nurse, doctor or AHP: set specific goals, choose relevant training, get supervised evidence and show real change.
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle Explained With a Healthcare Example
Gibbs' reflective cycle explained stage by stage, with a worked healthcare example of a medication error and tips for revalidation and portfolio reflections.
Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.