Patient safety competency and the new nursing care delivery model

Abstract

Aim: To identify the factors affecting nurses' patient safety competency under the new nursing care delivery model.

Background: In Korea, a new model was introduced in 2013 to ensure that nursing personnel provided inpatients with care without relying on guardians. After the launch of this service, there continue to be nurse-related patient safety incidents.

Methods: This is a descriptive study. Data from 132 general hospital nurses were collected during 15-24 February 2017 and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression.

Results: Participants' mean patient safety competency score was 3.82 (range 1-5). Clinical career (Pratt index = 47.3%), critical thinking disposition (30.4%), teamwork (24.1%) and critical thinking training experience (7.3%) were found to affect nurses' patient safety competency.

Conclusion: Under the new model, new nurses showed a low level of patient safety competency. Clinical career most influenced patient safety competency. Enhanced critical thinking and teamwork training are needed to improve patient safety competency among nurses.

Implications for nursing management: Nursing leaders must consider qualitative staffing mix involving appropriate placement of experienced nurses as well as quantitative staffing level to provide patients with high-quality, safe care and to implement the new model successfully. Regular training on critical thinking and teamwork should be carried out.

Keywords: critical thinking; nurses; patient safety; teamwork.