Background & Aim: Medication errors are one of the most common medical errors and these errors have a double importance in neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and type of medication prescribing errors in neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods & Materials: This study is a descriptive-analytical research. A census sample of 71 nurses from the neonatal intensive care unit of 5 hospitals in Yazd was included in study in 2015. The tools of data collection were the demographic and occupational data questionnaire and “medication errors” questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the Chi-square statistical test, using SPSS software v.18.

Results: 47.9% of nurses (34 persons) had made medication errors. 35.2% of samples had made 1-2 errors, and 51.51% of errors had occurred on the night shift. The most frequent nonparenteral medication errors were errors in drug calculation, drug dosage, the drug route of administration, and incorrect medication. In parenteral medications, errors in the drug infusion rate, drug calculation, drug dosage, and the Lack of attention to drug-drug interactions were frequently reported. Nurses declared that the large number of patients was the first main cause of medication errors.

Conclusion: Given the high frequency of medication prescribing errors particularly on the night shift, as well as considering the disproportionate nurse-to-patient ratio as a major cause of the errors, future research is needed to further evaluate the causes and prevention strategies of the medication errors.