Influence of Psychological Safety and Safety Climate Perceptions on Nurses’ Infection Prevention and Occupational Safety Practices and Environment

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe and examine the relationships among elements of infection prevention practices, the care environment, psychological safety, and safety climate in adult medical surgical units in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nurses in adult inpatient medical surgical units in the northeast were surveyed electronically. Each self-rated their infection prevention practices and elements of the care environment in their primary work unit. They were also asked to rate a series of questions regarding how psychologically safe they felt on their units as well as the overall patient safety climate. Results: A total of 259 nurses responded (52% response rate) to the survey. Overall psychological safety was rated neutrally among respondents, with a rating of 3.5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). Respondents reported better ratings of the safety climate on their unit (4.0) but also identified areas for improvement. Eight of twelve infection prevention practices were correlated with higher safety climate scores and ten were correlated with higher psychological safety scores. Nine of ten environmental factors were correlated with higher safety climate and higher psychological safety scores. Conclusions: Both psychological safety and patient safety climate are related to nurse self-ratings of performance of infection prevention practices. Similarly, the care environment nurses work in has important implications for psychological safety and patient safety. It is essential for nursing leadership to act as a steward in these areas to build a higher quality care environment for nurses and patients alike.