Assessment of Patient Safety Competencies among Critical Care Nurses

Background: Quality assurance programs have been implemented worldwide to address nursing errorsand improve patient safety. However, despite these efforts, threats to patient safety remain a majorconcern and contribute to the overall crude death rate. The World Health Organization (2018) reportedthat 42.7 million medical errors occurrences annually during hospitalizations. These errors are identifiedas the 14th leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide(Mohanty et al., 2018). Aim: This study aimsto assess levels patient safety competencies among critical care nurses. Research Question: What is thelevel of patient safety competencies among critical care nurses? Research design: Descriptive researchdesign was used to carry out this study. Setting: This study was conducted at all critical units ofAlexandria Main University Hospital. Subjects: All nurses (N=289) who are working in the previousmentioned units were recruited to collect the required data. Tools: One tool is used to collect thenecessary data Patient Safety Competency Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSCSE). Results: The highestpercentage of nurses (72.7% ) had high level of patient safety competencies. Conclusion: This studyhighlights that nurses exhibit a moderate to high level of patient safety competencies. By possessing thenecessary competencies, healthcare professionals can identify, prevent, and manage medical errors andadverse events, contributing to a culture of safety within the healthcare system. Recommendations: Basedon the findings of this study the policy makers and nurse leaders should fund training programs byallocating funding for the development and implementation of training programs that focus on patientsafety competencies. Mandate continuing education by requiring ongoing professional development inpatient safety as part of licensure renewal for nurses, ensuring continuous improvement in these criticalareas. Promote a safety culture by encouraging healthcare organizations to cultivate a culture of safety,where patient safety is core values supported by leadership and embedded in daily practices. Standardizecompetency assessments through establish standardized tools and methods for regularly assessing nurses'patient safety competencies, ensuring consistency and accountability