This year's National Nurses Week theme is "Culture of Safety — It Starts with YOU." The American Nurses Association is calling on nurses to enhance workplace safety to improve patient care and the health and well-being of nurses.
Registered nurses rank sixth among occupations for the highest instances of musculoskeletal injuries resulting in missed work days, according to the ANA.
"Injuries to nurses and other healthcare professionals should not be tolerated as just 'part of the job'," said Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, and ANA president.
Dr. Cipriano went on to add that patients also deserve a safe environment. "In a culture of safety, nurses are encouraged to talk openly about safety issues and their impact on patient care. A 2013 study showed that preventable adverse events accounted for 210,000 to 440,000 deaths of hospital patients every year. Clearly, there is still work to be done, and nurses will play a key role," said Dr. Cipriano.
The ANA defines a culture of safety as one in which all involved in a healthcare organization are committed to practices and values that prioritize safety over competing objectives.
In celebration of National Nurses Week and this year's emphasis on improving working environments for nurses, the ANA is offering a free webinar on the importance of diversity in the workplace. The organization is also offering a resource toolkit to help nurses promote the annual observance in their communities and in the media. Find the toolkit here.
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