Differences in Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture between Charge and Noncharge Nurses: Implications for Effectiveness Outcomes Research.

Deleise Wilson,Akkeneel Talsma,Michelle Aebersold,Richard W Redman

doi:10.1155/2012/847626

Deleise Wilson, Akkeneel Talsma + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/847626

Copy DOI

Abstract

The implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines can be influenced by nurses' perceptions of the organizational safety culture. Shift-by-shift management of each nursing unit is designated to a subset of staff nurses (charge nurses), whom are often recruited as champions for change. The findings indicate that compared to charge nurses, noncharge nurses were more positive about overall perceptions of safety (P = .05) and teamwork (P < .05). Among charge nurses, significant differences were observed based on the number of years' experience in charge: perception of teamwork within units [F(3, 365) = 3.52, P < .01]; overall perceptions of safety, [F(3, 365) = 4.20, P < .05]; safety grade for work area [F(3, 360) = 2.61, P < .05]; number of events reported within the last month [F(3, 362) = 3.49, P < .05]. These findings provide important insights to organizational contextual factors that may impact effectiveness outcomes research in the future.

Highlights

With the increasing emphasis in the efficient delivery of healthcare, healthcare organizations are investing in effectiveness outcomes research to improve patient outcomes
Of the nurses who were in charge, 47% worked on the current unit for more than six years compared to 12% of the staff nurses
Only 6% of the charge nurses self-identified as being permanent in the role in that they were in charge for 75% or greater of shifts worked

Summary

Introduction

With the increasing emphasis in the efficient delivery of healthcare, healthcare organizations are investing in effectiveness outcomes research to improve patient outcomes. The uptake and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are influenced by contextual factors such as leadership support and use of change champions [1,2,3] and personnel perceptions of patient safety [4]. Nurses’ perceptions of patient safety cultures and attitudes towards new practice guidelines are very critical for predicting the use of research evidence and new guidelines [5, 6]. What is known about nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture has been reviewed in comparison with interdisciplinary team members [7,8,9] and across ranks such as staff nurses versus nurse managers [10]. The positive perceptions of patient safety culture were associated with greater use of research findings and lower in adverse patient outcomes [2, 3, 24]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion