Errors continue to put millions of patients at risk annually, but nurses are in a position to prevent many mistakes and improve patient outcomes. “Nurses can make a substantial impact on safety,” said Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MSN, chief operating officer of the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) in Boston.

1. Top Six Things Nurses Can Do to
Improve Patient Safety

2. Errors continue to put millions
of patients at risk annually, but
nurses are in a position to
prevent many mistakes and
improve patient outcomes.

3. Patient Safety Experts
Offer Six Tips to RNs

4. #1
Support a Culture
of Safety

5. Be open
Support Trust
Safe Staffing
Learn from Errors
Display Transparency

6. Ask potential
employers about the
unit's safety scores
and workplace
safety.

7. #2
Communicate

8. Speak up, if
you observe
something
unsafe!

9. Take particular care to share information at
shift change.

10. Don’t skip the basics
#3

11. Even when time
is short, perform
basic care and
follow
checklists.

12. "There is an association
between missed care and increased error
and harm.”
- Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MSN
COO, Nat’l Patient Safety Foundation

13. Engage your patients
#4

14. Ask the patient about
their goals.
Listen if they have questions
about
their care.

15. Learn from incidents and
near misses
#5

16. After an incident, debrief
methodically and
immediately.

17. Get involved
#6

18. Bedside nurses are close to problems and
have creative solutions.
There are career opportunities for RNs to
help create safer facilities.

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