Which personnel is responsible for documenting any error in medication administration?

The licensed nurse holds the primary responsibility for documenting any errors in medication administration. This duty is crucial because licensed nurses are trained healthcare professionals who have the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the implications of medication errors on patient safety and outcomes. When a medication error occurs, the licensed nurse must accurately document the incident to ensure that there is a complete record of what happened. This documentation plays a vital role in patient care by assisting in tracking adverse effects, guiding future medication management, and informing quality improvement initiatives within the healthcare facility.

Pharmacy staff may play a role in the preparation and dispensing of medications, but they typically do not document administration errors directly. Similarly, administrators focus on the broader operational aspects of healthcare delivery rather than on individual patient care documentation. Patient care technicians support nurses and may assist in providing patient care, but they are not responsible for the detailed documentation of medication errors, as their training does not include the same level of medication management oversight. Thus, the licensed nurse is the appropriate personnel for this crucial task of documentation.