Despite prevention efforts, the prevalence of medication errors has reached epidemic proportions in the United States (US). Subsequent to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, there has been a nationwide focus on identifying and implementing error prevention and reporting measures. Preventable medication events cost hospitals about $4,700 per admission, thus contributing an additional two billion dollars to health care costs. Since humans make mistakes, some errors are unforeseeable. Nevertheless, state boards of nursing frequently take disciplinary action against nurses for frequent medication errors. The extent of punishment for mistakes varies from state to state. Nevertheless the effects are often devastating to the persons involved. The current shortage of nurses mandates that action be taken to resolve contributing factors to medication errors. In reality, medication errors are complex and seldom the result of one person's action. There is usually a chain of events that lead to an error. Contributing factors include distractions, lack of focus, poor communication, and failure to follow standard operating procedures during medication administration. Thus, we must all work toward finding more real solutions to medication errors. We must remember to utilize the seven rights of medication administration (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right reason, and right documentation), avoid distractions, interruptions and unnecessary conversation