Perioperative Nurse's Experience of Nursing Errors and Emotional Distress, Coping Strategies, and Changes in Practice

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to examine perioperative nurses' perception of the definitions and causes of nursing errors; the relationships among emotional distress, coping strategies, and changes in practice as a result of errors. Methods: A descriptive, correlative design was used with a sample of 146 nurses working in the operating room of a university hospital. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire with 4 point Likert scales. For the analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffes post hoc test and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: Most nurses recognized themajority of the items as perioperative nursing errors. Job overload was perceived as the cause of errors. Emotional distress was significantly related with nurses' age, position and years of work experience. The coping strategies used most frequently were 'accepting responsibility' and 'planful problem solving'. The coping strategies of 'accepting responsibility', 'planful problem solving', 'seeking social support', and 'using self-control' were significant predictors in constructive practice change. Defensive changes were related to the strategy of escape/avoidance and emotional distress. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that intervention strategies should be developed to decrease perioperative nurses'distress and improve their coping strategies resulting in constructive change in practice after committing an error.