Journal article
Leadership: Patient safety depends on it!
Collegian, Vol.28(6), pp.604-609
2021
Abstract
Background
Safety leadership in healthcare is required and should be encouraged from the bedside through to the executive and is essential for the safety of the patients in our care. Major health inquiries have highlighted failure of leadership as a cause of poor patient outcomes.
Aim
To highlight issues and initiatives raised within discussion forums by postgraduate health care management students asked to reflect upon leadership, quality and safety, and human factors in today's healthcare environment
Methods
A qualitative approach by way of retrospective review of compulsory discussion forum posts from online postgraduate quality and safety and human factors in health care units.
Findings
Authority gradients persist in contemporary healthcare settings, influenced to a certain degree by the multi-generational workforce, and ultimately compromising communication and teamwork. Human factors effects on care provision emphasised fatigue as a significant issue that needs to be addressed by appropriate workforce management.
Discussion
The ability for healthcare professionals to challenge decisions and directives that may compromise safety is hampered by the persistence of both intra- and interprofessional authority gradients. Students reported hesitancy to challenge or seek assistance from those who hold ‘leadership’, or senior positions, due to distrust and fear of ridicule. Students could, however, see the bigger picture and sought to translate their learning into quality improvements in the workplace.
Conclusion
Challenging perceived authority is necessary and open communication should be encouraged through effective leadership. Effective leadership leads to efficient teamwork and ultimately safe and efficient care for patients.
Details
- Title
- Leadership: Patient safety depends on it!
- Authors/Creators
- M. Murray (Author/Creator)V. Cope (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Collegian, Vol.28(6), pp.604-609
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Identifiers
- 991005543989007891
- Copyright
- © 2021 Australian College of Nursing Ltd.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Nursing
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
272 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.14 Nursing
- 1.14.265 Nursing Education
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine