Open AccessEvaluation of Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Medical Errors
Author(s) -
Ebru Önler,
Tülin Yıldız,
Esra Aktaş Kılıç
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sağlık ve hemşirelik yönetimi dergisi
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2149-018X
DOI - 10.5222/shyd.2021.99815
Subject(s) - workload , economic shortage , workforce , nursing , nursing staff , scale (ratio) , medicine , unit (ring theory) , psychology , medical education , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , physics , mathematics education , quantum mechanics , government (linguistics) , economics , economic growth , operating system
Aim: This study was realized with the aim to evaluate nurses’ attitudes toward medical errors. Method: Data were collected from 149 nurses in a university hospital in Turkey, using the Scale of Attitudes toward Medical Errors developed by Güleç and Seren Intepeler (2013) and a staff information form prepared in line with the literature data. Results: Nurses’ attitudes toward errors were generally positive, and intensive care unit (ICU) nurses were found to have more positive attitudes toward errors than ward nurses. The factors that caused medical errors included an increasing number of patients per shift, a workforce shortage, an intensifying workload, and lack of knowledge and experience. While the majority of the nurses believed that reporting errors decreased the number of errors, most of them refrained from reporting errors for which they were responsible. Conclusion: The results may be useful for nurse managers and leaders to reach a more comprehensive understanding of nurses’ attitudes toward medical errors and to encourage them to support their staff and improving their working environment.