Creating a Patient Safety Culture in Obstetrics

Abstract

To create an innovative, cost-efficient training program that is effective and mindful of the work–life balance of nurses and promotes a culture of patient safety. Discontinue having monthly staff meetings as well as the annual skills fair, which does not include simulation. We implemented a training program that ran in 4-hour blocks for 2 days. There were 144 team members who rotated during the 2 days of training. We collaborated with our partners in the simulation lab; physicians in obstetrics, anesthesia, and neonatology; as well as with respiratory therapists and the rapid response team. From 2017 to 2018, we increased the amount of participation from 30% to 39%. In 2018, the labor and delivery unit had 94% participation rate, the mother-baby unit had 100% participation rate, and the NICU had an 85% participation rate. The hospital’s nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) rate decreased from 26.4% in Quarter 1 (2016) to 13.3% in Quarter 3 (2018). Our timely treatment of hypertension increased from 60% in July 2017 to 89% in October 2018. Our Quarter 1 data from (2016) showed a 0.6% maternal morbidity rate; in Quarter 3 (2018) it was 0.3%. These data are impressive. Create a culture of safety and an environment in which all team members can speak up and seek to understand the “why.” Nurses feel more confident and competent. Training together as a team creates better results. We all speak the same language.