Teamwork, psychological safety, and patient safety competency among emergency nurses

Abstract

Introduction: The patient safety competency of emergency nurses is critical because the emergency department is a complex and dynamic setting in which patient safety incidents are likely to occur owing to difficulties in controlling and predicting situations.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors that predict the patient safety competency of emergency nurses.

Methods: A descriptive correlational study using cross-sectional survey methodology was conducted with a convenience sample of 200 emergency nurses. Teamwork, psychological safety, and patient safety competency were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression.

Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that situation monitoring, reporting of patient safety adverse events, number of night shifts per month, and psychological safety were significant factors affecting patient safety competency, accounting for 27.1% of the variance.

Conclusions: A training program targeting emergency nurses with vulnerable factors is needed to improve their patient safety competency. As situation monitoring and psychological safety were found to be influential factors for patient safety competency, multi-level intervention is needed to improve nurses' situation monitoring ability and psychological safety.

Keywords: Emergency department; Nurse; Patient safety; Psychological safety; Survey; Teamwork.