All different types of healthcare workers — from pharmacists to physicians, dieticians to therapists — affect patient safety and satisfaction, but nurses play a particularly important role, according to Pam Estill, MSN, RN, manager of healthcare quality improvement at Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Mont.
Ms. Estill recently authored a column in the Missoulian about how nurses ensure patient safety and care quality. Here are three highlights from her column.
1. Nurses are among those who spend the most time with patients.
"Nurses on the front lines often spend eight to 12 hours per shift with their patients. They are key decision-makers and observers who can influence both patient outcomes and patient satisfaction."
2. Hospital administrators need to empower and include nurses in safety efforts.
"Because they are the constant professional presence in the patient's experience, it is essential that nurses know how to make effective decisions and that they are empowered to do so by the leaders of the organization. The organization needs to be willing to break down hierarchical structures and create collaborative processes where decision-making is shared."
3. Nurses should be devoted to continuous quality improvement.
"Nurses…must be committed to excellence, actively participate in the decision-making process, stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their practice and take accountability for the outcomes of their work. They are their patients' advocates, and this requires that they have well-developed interpersonal, critical thinking and conflict management skills."
Click here to read more about Ms. Estill's views on nurses, patient safety and shared decision-making.
More articles on nurses:
Videoconferencing between hospital staff, home nurses curbs antipsychotic use for dementia patients
Language barriers problematic for nurses educating parents about shaken baby syndrome
Chipotle celebrates nurses with BOGO burritos