Running head: HOW TO ADDRESS THE CULTURE OF SAFETY ISSUE ON THE

How to address the culture of safety issue on the unit
Justin Frye
Jacksonville

February 8, 2014

How to address the culture of safety issue on the unit

The AHRQ describes culture as a critical component of healthcare quality and safety. An organizational culture consists of the values, beliefs, and norms that are important in the organization. A culture of safety includes the attitudes and behaviors that are related to patient safety and that are expected and appropriate to promote patient safety (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], n.d.).

It is important that nursing leaders adequately assess the safety culture in their workplace and clearly articulate a framework to guide personnel as they work to increase safety within their work settings. A safety culture requires strong, committed leadership, along with the engagement and empowerment of all employees.
Promotion of safety and prevention of injury must be the first consideration in all actions, and is the responsibility of each employee, Medical staff member, student, and volunteer. The culture of safety and the ongoing promotion of a safe environment is achieved through the coordinated and efficient efforts of each individual’s contribution toward these goals by promptly reporting errors, events and "near misses" to enable identification and correction of system problems.
Addressing Culture of Safety on the Unit:

A. Individual Responsibilities
1. Stress the importance of being familiar with and following policies and procedures applicable to assigned duties
2. Bring to the unit staffs awareness the importance of using sound judgment and being aware of potential hazards before taking action.
3. Stress the importance of promptly reporting errors and events or situations of actual or potential event or harm to the unit manager of another position of authority
B. Unit Management Responsibilities for addressing the issue
1. Conduct staff education regarding errors/event reporting and continuous safety improvement.
2. Establish a culture that encourages error/event reporting in a blame free environment by focusing on the "how" of an error/event rather than "who" may have caused or contributed to it.
3. Provide leadership for the measurement and assessment of patient safety effectiveness.
4. Involve staff in identification of flawed system processes and determination of potential solutions.
5. Maintain compliance with all