Nurses still afraid to speak up with patient safety on the line

Despite safety protocols and checklists, patient safety still could be at risk. Why? Because nurses are still afraid to speak up when they see physicians and other colleagues taking shortcuts or performing incompetently. A new study by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and the Association of Critical Care Nurses surveyed 6,500 nurses and nurse managers in the U.S. in 2010 and revealed some disturbing statistics:
 

• 84% of respondents say that at least 10% of their colleagues take dangerous shortcuts. Of those respondents, 26% say these shortcuts have actually harmed patients, but only 17% have shared their concerns.
• 82% of respondents say that 10% or more of their colleagues are missing basic skills and, as a result, 19% say they this gap cause harm to patients. Only 11% have spoken to the incompetent colleague about their concerns.
• 85% of respondents say that 10% or more of the people they work with are disrespectful. This disrespect undermines their ability to share concerns or speak up about problems. Only 16% have confronted their disrespectful colleague.

This study highlights the need for medical staffs to develop cultures of continuous improvement, cultures of safety that allow individuals to share their concerns, and enforceable codes of conduct. Physicians who listen to nurses’ concerns and take them seriously may save patients’ lives.