actions to take.
Better prepared
We polled staff about their perceptions of our patient safety efforts
before and after implementing the safety meetings. They said the meet-
ings improve the way they practice and they're now more aware of
patient safety protocols, better informed of the facility's policies and
procedures, and enjoy increased communication with their peers.
To develop a culture of safety, you must promote non-punitive
learning opportunities. Remember, you're not trying to play the
blame game. You're trying to figure out why a mistake occurred and
take the necessary steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.
OSM
Ms. Brunson (amylynneb01@gmail.com) is nurse manager of the OR at
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas.
M A R C H 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 1 5
in place.
• Assign action items. Summarize the facts of the case, what
went wrong and the steps your team will take moving forward to
prevent similar errors from occurring.
• Save time for Q&A. This is one of the most productive parts of
the meeting. We've seen lively discussions take place among our
staff. They give suggestions based on their past experiences and
question why we're doing things a certain way, or why we're not.
Announce at the beginning of each meeting that the team has
gathered to learn from each other. Emphasize that the meeting is
non-punitive. You want to foster an honest discussion where staff
feel comfortable opening up about what went wrong and what can
be done differently moving forward without fear of punishment.
— Amy Brunson, MSN, RN, CNOR
