A senior nurse on a medical unit is aware of the role that she can play in establishing a culture of safety on the unit. What characteristic is most important to care settings that possess a culture of safety?

Question

A) Anticoagulants, opioids, and insulin are cosigned by two nurses.
B) Physicians' orders are entered into a computerized system rather than a handwritten section
of patients' charts.
C) Nurses feel that they can report errors, near misses, and adverse events without being
punished or denounced.
D) Direct patient care is provided by ADN and baccalaureate nurses rather than practical
(vocational) nurses.

Answer 1

Ans: C
A central attribute of a culture of safety is the existence of trust and mutual respect.
This encourages healthcare providers to report errors, near misses, and other adverse events
without fear of retribution. Cosigning medications and eliminating handwritten orders are
specific measures that may augment safety, but they are not characteristics of a culture of
safety. Excluding PNs from care is not necessary to ensure safety.