Patient safety should NOT be a priority in health care! Part 2: reducing at-risk behaviours

In the November issue of Alberta RN, we published part one of a feature on at-risk behaviours titled "Patient safety should NOT be a priority in health care: Why we engage in at-risk behaviours" in which it was suggested that patient safety should be a value associated with every health-care priority and activity, not a priority that can be rearranged based on changing demands. Unfortunately, human behaviour runs counter to making patient safety a value because the rewards for risk-taking are often immediate and positive, while the punishment (patient harm) for risk-taking is often remote and very unlikely. As a result, even the most educated, diligent and careful practitioners learn to master dangerous shortcuts and engage in at-risk behaviours. This month, we explore the system-based causes of at-risk behaviours and ways to reduce their occurrence.