What is the term used to describe a substantial error in medication that could harm a resident?

The term that describes a substantial error in medication that could harm a resident is a significant medication error. This classification specifically emphasizes the severity and potential impact of the error on a patient's health and safety. Significant medication errors are serious enough that they can lead to adverse health effects, requiring immediate attention and intervention to prevent or mitigate harmful outcomes.

Effective medication management is crucial in care services, and understanding the differentiation of terms is important for healthcare professionals to communicate risks associated with medication administration appropriately. Other terms, like minor medication error, would refer to less severe mistakes that are unlikely to affect patient health significantly, while incidental medication errors do not imply the same level of severity. Negligent medication errors are related to carelessness but do not specifically indicate the substantial impact or potential harm to residents. Therefore, recognizing a significant medication error is vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals receiving care.