Which of the following best defines prescribing errors?

The definition of prescribing errors primarily revolves around mistakes made during the prescription process, which includes the selection of the wrong medication or failing to provide proper directions for its use. Incorrect drug selection or improper instructions can lead to significant consequences for patient safety and treatment efficacy. These errors often stem from a lack of knowledge regarding drug interactions, incorrect patient information, or misunderstanding the patient's medical history.

While errors in dosage calculations, monitoring post-administration, and medication packaging are indeed important aspects of medication management, they fall under different categories of errors. Dosage calculation errors might occur during the administration phase rather than the prescribing phase. Monitoring failures relate to the oversight of patient reactions after a medication has been dispensed and administered, which also does not pertain to the initial prescription. Errors in medication packaging involve the physical aspects of how drugs are labeled and presented, which is typically the responsibility of pharmacies and not prescribers.

Therefore, focusing on the core components of prescription—the choice of medication and the clear communication of its use—confirms that incorrect drug selection or directions provided accurately defines prescribing errors.