Reducing Medication Errors And Enhancing Therapeutic Outcomes: A Systematic Review Of Nursing–Pharmacy Collaborative Models In Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Abstract

The increasing complexity of medication regimens across healthcare settings has intensified the risk of medication errors and suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. Interprofessional collaboration between nursing and pharmacy professionals has emerged as a critical strategy to improve medication safety, optimize therapy, and enhance patient-centered care. This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on nursing–pharmacy collaborative models and their impact on medication error reduction, therapeutic effectiveness, and healthcare quality outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of major databases was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies examining structured or informal nursing–pharmacy collaboration across acute, chronic, and transitional care settings. Included studies were analyzed regarding collaboration mechanisms, clinical and organizational outcomes, and enabling factors. The findings indicate that integrated nursing–pharmacy collaboration significantly reduces medication errors, improves adherence to evidence-based prescribing, enhances therapeutic monitoring, and positively influences patient satisfaction and safety outcomes. Additionally, system-level benefits such as workflow efficiency, interprofessional communication, and organizational learning were identified. This review underscores the importance of embedding structured nursing–pharmacy collaboration within healthcare systems and supports its role as a cornerstone of medication safety and therapeutic excellence.