Difficulties to implement patient safety strategies: perspectives of management nurses

To understand the difficulties to implement patient safety strategies in the hospital environment from the perspective of nurse managers.

Descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study, carried out in four public university hospitals, using a semi-structured interview script, from January to March 2015. The sample was of 72 nurses. Content analysis was carried out, in the thematic modality.

The following categories were identified: Inadequate sizing of nursing staff; Lack of support of the top management: from policies to concrete actions and; Lack of adherence of the professionals to patient safety strategies.

In order for the institution to succeed in the implementation of patient safety strategies, it is necessary to have a continuous and permanent education policy, to raise awareness and to involve professionals from the top management to the front line employees.