Nurse Practitioners' Perspectives on Medical Errors and Caregiver Support

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Professionals
• Medical Error Analysis
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Medical errors are a significant concern in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding healthcare providers' perspectives on errors is crucial for improving patient safety.
• Nurse practitioners play a vital role in patient care and are susceptible to experiencing medical errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nurse practitioners' attitudes toward medical errors using the Medical Error Attitude Scale.
• To investigate nurse practitioners' experiences after medical errors.
• To identify the support received and desired by nurse practitioners following medical errors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was employed.
• An electronic survey was distributed to a convenience sample of licensed nurse practitioners in Utah.
• The survey included the Medical Error Attitude Scale, demographic information, and questions about error reporting and support.

Main Results:

• Nurse practitioners demonstrated generally positive attitudes towards medical errors.
• Higher positive attitudes were associated with doctoral-level education, female gender, and organizational support programs.
• While most nurse practitioners reported their errors, a significant number did not receive adequate institutional support, with peer support being the most sought-after.

Conclusions:

• Nurse practitioners frequently encounter medical errors and require accessible, meaningful support.
• Despite positive attitudes, a gap exists in institutional support for nurse practitioners post-error.
• Further research is necessary to fully comprehend and address the support needs of nurse practitioners following medical errors.