Question

in term of patient safety issues, are human factors more critical at the sharp end or at the blunt end of an unsafe patient care situation

Answer 1

Answer: Human factors are those things that affect an individuals performance.A human factors approach is key to safer health care.It will become part of the core curricula of all health professionals.Training needs to be coordinated along inter professional lines.

Nurses at the Sharp End of patient care: The work environment in which nurses provide care to patients can determine the quality and safety of patient care.As the largest health care workforce,nurses apply their knowledge,skills,and experience to care for the various and changing needs of patients.A large part of the demands of patient care is centered on the work of nurses.When care falls short of standards,whether because of resources allocation ( e.g workforce shortage and lack of needed medical equipment) or lack of appropriate policies and standards,nurses shoulder much of the responsibility.This reflects the continued misunderstanding of the greater effects of numerous,complex health care systems and the work environment factors.Understanding the complexity of the work environment and engaging in strategies to improve its effects is paramount to higher- quality,safer care.High reliability organizations that have cultures of safety and capitalize on evidence based practice offer favorable working conditions to nurses and are dedicated to improving the safety and quality of care.Emphasis on the need to improve health care systems to enable nurses to not be at the sharp end,so that they can provide the right care and ensure that patients will benefit from safe,quality care.