Patient Safety and Patient Safety Culture in Nephrology Nurse Practice Settings: Issues, Solutions, and Best...

In order to assure patient safety, it is necessary to create positive patient safety cultures. This article presents the initial qualitative results from a national study, "Patient Safety Culture in Nephrology Nurse Practice Settings." Based on the responses of participants, themes were identified for both issues and potential solutions and best practices. Issue themes included underreporting of events and near misses, poor staffing ratios, long work hours, communication lapses, and training, infection control, and compliance. Potential solutions and best practice themes included non-punitive and transparent event reporting, fall reduction strategies, improved medication administration practices, and scheduled safety huddles and safety meetings. The results of this landmark study can be used to start conversations and spark education programs to improve patient safety culture in nephrology nurse practice settings.