Perceptions of Quality, Safety, and Harm in Oncology Nursing Practice: A Qualitative Study

Oncology care is complex, increasing the risk of patient harm. Nurses play a key role in identifying and addressing safety issues. Gaps in nurses' understanding of quality, safety, and harm may impede improvement efforts, particularly in safety reporting.

We examined oncology nurses' experiences with and perceptions of quality and safety in patient care, including their understanding of harm and how they use safety reporting systems in clinical practice.

We used interpretive description methodology and conducted semi-structured interviews with 28 nurses at an urban oncology center.

Oncology nurses' accounts of quality, safety, and harm were nuanced and closely connected. Safety reporting systems present challenges and limitations in capturing nurses' concerns.

Expanding harm definitions, streamlining reporting, and ensuring meaningful organizational responses are essential for fostering a culture of safety and quality improvement in oncology.