An innovative leap: Embracing new pedagogical approaches for clinical education.

In response to increasingly complex care environments, a mid-sized research-intensive university in Western Canada engaged in an extensive curriculum redesign of the BSN program, including the development of an Innovative Clinical Learning Model. In this article, the authors share their experience of developing and implementing two innovative pedagogical approaches for clinical teaching in the medical surgical context. Program evaluation data indicated that these pedagogical strategies provided increased opportunities for timely application of theory in practice and facilitated students' development of clinical reasoning, skill mastery, and professional identities as accountable, responsible, ethical nurses.

Nursing students' experiences of moral uncertainty in the context of global health practicums.

More students than ever are electing to take part in international practicums from health-related disciplines. With the goal of better understanding the moral experiences and ethical implications of global health practicums (GHPs), the purpose of this Interpretive Descriptive study was to examine the moral uncertainty of nursing students from one university in Canada. Seventeen nurses who had participated in a GHP in their undergraduate nursing program participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed inductively using constant comparative data analysis techniques, and a thematic account of participants' experiences was developed. Findings suggest that nursing students experienced considerable amounts of moral uncertainty during their GHP. Most often, participants' experiences of uncertainty stemmed from a misalignment between their expectations and reality, including encountering different approaches to healthcare, being situated in new cultural and clinical care environments, and grappling with how best to stay within one's scope of student professional practice. Participants inconsistently reflected on these experiences, which may present a missed opportunity for professional growth through the development of a heightened social consciousness. Educators can facilitate this process by implementing robust predeparture training for GHPs, clarifying program objectives, and providing clinical debriefing.

Radical transformation: Embracing constructivism and pedagogy for an innovative nursing curriculum.

To effectively navigate today's complex and rapidly changing health care environments, nurses require a high level of knowledge, sound psychomotor skills, diverse thinking and reasoning abilities, and a strong professional identity. The evidence showed that programs that offer students focused clinical practice experiences and offer students opportunities to 'think like a nurse' enable them to become sound practitioners. Faculty and staff at one mid-sized research-intensive university in Western Canada, engaged in an iterative process of rethinking the theoretical and pedagogical underpinnings of a BSN curriculum for educating nurses for the complexity of today's practice. Constructivist learning theory was chosen as the main underpinning of the revised curriculum. Furthermore, transformational learning theory guided the selection of several pedagogical approaches utilized throughout the program with the goal of inviting critical reflection and encouraging the development of competent, compassionate, ethical, and professional nurses. Additionally, we employed an innovative approach to clinical practicums where the process of learning is both integrated and intentional, and students are mentored to use prior knowledge in their decisions and clinical reasoning.

Safety culture in healthcare: mixed method study.

PURPOSE: Healthcare providers' perceptions of management's effectiveness in achieving safety culture improvements are low, and there is little information in the literature on the subject. Objective: The overall aim of this study was to examine the patient safety culture within an interprofessional team - physicians, nurses, nurse technicians, speech therapist, psychologist, social worker, administrative support - practicing in an advanced neurology and neurosurgery center in Southern Brazil. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors applied the safety attitudes questionnaire (SAQ) in a mixed methods study, with a quan→QUAL sequential explanatory approach. FINDINGS: In the quantitative phase, the authors found a negative safety climate through the SAQ. In the qualitative phase, the approach enabled participants to identify specific safety problems. For that, participants proposed improvements that were directly and quickly implemented in the workplace during the study. The joint analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data inferred that the information and reflections of the focus group participants supported and validated the SAQ statistical analysis results. This integrated approach illustrated the importance of various safety culture aspects as a multifaceted phenomenon related to healthcare quality. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study provides explanations for why management is associated negatively with safety climate in healthcare institutions. In addition, the study provides a novel contribution adding value to mixed methods research methodology.

Use of participatory visual narrative methods to explore older adults' experiences of managing multiple chronic conditions during care transitions.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with multiple chronic conditions typically have more complex care needs that require multiple transitions between healthcare settings. Poor care transitions often lead to fragmentation in care, decreased quality of care, and increased adverse events. Emerging research recommends the strong need to engage patients and families to improve the quality of their care. However, there are gaps in evidence on the most effective approaches for fully engaging patients/clients and families in their transitional care. The purpose of this study was to engage older adults with multiple chronic conditions and their family members in the detailed exploration of their experiences during transitions across health care settings and identify potential areas for future interventions. METHODS: This was a qualitative study using participatory visual narrative methods informed by a socio-ecological perspective. Narrated photo walkabouts were conducted with older adults and family members (n = 4 older adults alone, n = 3 family members alone, and n = 2 older adult/family member together) between February and September 2016. The data analysis of the transcripts consisted of an iterative process until consensus on the coding and analysis was reached. RESULTS: A common emerging theme was that older adults and their family members identified the importance of active involvement in managing their own care transitions. Other themes included positive experiences during care transitions; accessing community services and resources; as well as challenges with follow-up care. Participants also felt a lack of meaningful engagement during discharge planning, and they also identified the presence of systemic barriers in care transitions. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to our understanding that person- and family-centered care transitions should focus on the need for active involvement of older adults and their families in managing care transitions. Based on the results, three areas for improvement specific to older adults managing chronic conditions during care transitions emerged: strengthening support for person- and family-centered care, engaging older adults and families in their care transitions, and providing better support and resources.

Researching safety culture: deliberative dialogue with a restorative lens.

Safety culture is a key component of patient safety. Many patient safety strategies in health care have been adapted from high-reliability organizations (HRO) such as aviation. However, to date, attempts to transform the cultures of health care settings through HRO approaches have had mixed results. We propose a methodological approach for safety culture research, which integrates the theory and practice of restoration science with the principles and methods of deliberative dialogue to support active engagement in critical reflection and collective debate. Our aim is to describe how these two innovative approaches in health services research can be used together to provide a comprehensive effective method to study and implement change in safety culture. Restorative research in health care integrates socio-ecological theory of complex adaptive systems concepts with collaborative, place-sensitive study of local practice contexts. Deliberative dialogue brings together all stakeholders to collectively develop solutions on an issue to facilitate change. Together these approaches can be used to actively engage people in the study of safety culture to gain a better understanding of its elements. More importantly, we argue that the synergistic use of these approaches offers enhanced potential to move health care professionals towards actionable strategies to improve patient safety within today's complex health care systems.

Characteristics of nursing professionals and the practice of ecologically sustainable actions in the medication processes.

Objectives: to verify the correlation between the characteristics of professionals and the practice of sustainable actions in the medication processes in an ICU, and to determine if interventions such as training and awareness can promote sustainable practices performed by nursing staff in the hospital. Methods: before-and-after design study using Lean Six Sigma methodology, applied in an intensive care unit. Nursing staff were observed regarding the practice of ecologically sustainable actions during medication processes (n = 324 cases for each group (pre and post-intervention)) through a data collection instrument. The processes analyzed involved 99 professionals in the pre-intervention phase and 97 in the post-intervention phase. Data were analyzed quantitatively and the association of variables was accomplished by means of statistical inference, according to the nature of the related variables. Results: the education level was the only characteristic that showed to be relevant to an increase in sustainable practices, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). When comparing before and after the intervention, there was an increase in environmentally friendly actions with statistically significant differences (p = 0.001). Conclusions: the results suggest that institutions should encourage and invest in formal education, as well as training of health professionals to promote sustainable practices in the hospital.

Characteristics of nursing professionals and the practice of ecologically sustainable actions in the medication processes / Características de los profesionales de enfermería y la práctica de acciones ecológicamente sustentables en los procesos de medicación / Características dos profissionais de enfermagem e a prática de ações ecologicamente sustentáveis nos processos de medicação

ABSTRACT Objectives: to verify the correlation between the characteristics of professionals and the practice of sustainable actions in the medication processes in an ICU, and to determine if interventions such as training and awareness can promote sustainable practices performed by nursing staff in the hospital. Methods: before-and-after design study using Lean Six Sigma methodology, applied in an intensive care unit. Nursing staff were observed regarding the practice of ecologically sustainable actions during medication processes (n = 324 cases for each group (pre and post-intervention)) through a data collection instrument. The processes analyzed involved 99 professionals in the pre-intervention phase and 97 in the post-intervention phase. Data were analyzed quantitatively and the association of variables was accomplished by means of statistical inference, according to the nature of the related variables. Results: the education level was the only characteristic that showed to be relevant to an increase in sustainable practices, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). When comparing before and after the intervention, there was an increase in environmentally friendly actions with statistically significant differences (p = 0.001). Conclusions: the results suggest that institutions should encourage and invest in formal education, as well as training of health professionals to promote sustainable practices in the hospital.

RESUMEN Objetivos: verificar la correlación entre las características de los profesionales y la práctica de acciones sustentables en los procesos de medicación en una UTI y determinar si intervenciones como capacitación y concientización logran promover la práctica de acciones sustentables por el equipo de enfermería en el hospital. Métodos: estudio antes y después usando la metodología Lean Seis Sigma, aplicada en una unidad de terapia intensiva. El equipo de enfermería fue observado referente a la práctica de acciones ecológicamente sustentables durante los procesos de medicación (n = 324 casos de cada grupo (pre y post-intervenciones) mediante un instrumento de recolecta de datos. Los procesos analizados involucraron 99 profesionales en la fase de post-intervención. Los datos fueron analizados cuantitativamente y para asociar las variables fue aplicada la estadística inferencial, según la naturaleza de las variables relacionadas. Resultados: el nivel de escolaridad fue la única característica que se mostró relevante para el aumento de prácticas sustentables con diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,002). En la comparación antes y después de las intervenciones, aumentaron las acciones ecológicamente correctas con diferencia estadísticamente significante (p=0,001). Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que las instituciones deben estimular e invertir en la educación formal, y también en la capacitación de los profesionales de salud para la promoción de prácticas sustentables en los hospitales.

RESUMO Objetivos: verificar a correlação entre as características dos profissionais e a prática de ações sustentáveis nos processos de medicação em uma UTI e determinar se intervenções como treinamento e conscientização podem promover a prática de ações sustentáveis realizadas pela equipe de enfermagem no hospital. Métodos: estudo antes e depois usando a metodologia Lean Seis Sigma aplicada em uma unidade de terapia intensiva. A equipe de enfermagem foi observada referente à prática de ações ecologicamente sustentáveis durante os processos de medicação (n = 324 casos de cada grupo (pré e pós-intervenções)) por meio de um instrumento de coleta de dados. Os processos analisados envolveram 99 professionais na fase de pré-intervenção e 97 na fase de pós-intervenção. Os dados foram analisados quantitativamente e a associação das variáveis foi realizada por meio de estatística inferencial, de acordo com a natureza das variáveis relacionadas. Resultados: o nível de escolaridade foi a única característica que se mostrou relevante para o aumento de práticas sustentáveis com diferença estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,002). No comparativo antes e após as intervenções, houve um aumento das ações ecologicamente corretas com diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,001). Conclusões: os resultados sugerem que as instituições devem estimular e investir na educação formal, assim como no treinamento dos profissionais de saúde para a promoção de práticas sustentáveis nos hospitais.

Contributions of the sandwich doctoral program to methodological approaches: an experience report. / Contribuições do programa de doutorado sanduíche nas abordagens metodológicas: relato de experiência.

Objective To share our experience on theoretical and methodological insights we have gained as researchers working together during the Sandwich Doctoral Program. Method This is a descriptive experience report. Results We have incorporated restoration thinking into a study on patient safety culture and will enhance knowledge translation by applying principles of deliberative dialogue to increase the uptake and implementation of research results. Conclusion Incorporating new approaches in Brazilian nursing research plays a key role in achieving international participation and visibility in different areas of nursing knowledge.

Sustentabilidade ambiental nos processos de medicação realizados na assistência de enfermagem hospitalar / Environmental sustainability in medication processes performed in hospital nursing care

Resumo Objetivo Foram analisadas ações sustentáveis realizadas pela equipe de enfermagem de uma unidade de terapia intensiva durante os processos de medicação e proposto intervenções para a melhoria da sustentabilidade ambiental na área hospitalar. Métodos Estudo antes e depois usando a metodologia Lean Seis Sigma aplicada em uma unidade de terapia intensiva. A amostra foi composta por 648 processos de medicação realizados pela equipe de enfermagem. Os dados foram coletados por meio de roteiros de observação e analisados quantitativamente. Resultados Os resultados pós-intervenções incluíram a redução dos materiais como sacos plásticos (37,1%), redução de sobras de anti-inflamatórios hormonais (67,1%), aumento na remoção de etiquetas de sacos plásticos para serem reciclados (146,9%) e descarte correto de resíduos (32,2%) com diferença estatística significante (p ≤0.05). Conclusão As estratégias de intervenções implementadas a partir da análise do problema, validação e priorização das ações teve influência positiva na redução, reciclagem e disposição correta dos resíduos com benefícios para a instituição, meio ambiente e a saúde humana.

Abstract Objective Sustainable actions performed by the nursing team in an intensive care unit during medication processes were examined, after which interventions were proposed to improve environmental sustainability in the hospital setting. Methods Before and after study, using the Lean Six Sigma methodology applied in an intensive care unit. The sample was comprised of 648 medication processes performed by the nursing team. The data was collected via observation routes and analyzed quantitatively. Results The post-intervention results included: reduction of materials such as plastic bags (37.1%), reduction of hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (67.1%), increased removal of labels from plastic bags to be recycled (146.9%) and proper waste disposal (32.2%), with a statistically significant difference (p ≤0.05). Conclusion The intervention strategies implemented, based on an analysis of the problem, validation and prioritization of the actions had a positive influence on reduction, recycling and proper disposal of waste with benefits for the institution, environment and human health.

Engaging Direct Care Providers in Improving Infection Prevention and Control Practices Using Participatory Visual Methods.

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the feasibility of using provider-led participatory visual methods to scrutinize 4 hospital units' infection prevention and control practices. Methods included provider-led photo walkabouts, photo elicitation sessions, and postimprovement photo walkabouts. Nurses readily engaged in using the methods to examine and improve their units' practices and reorganize their work environment.

Contribuições do programa de doutorado sanduíche nas abordagens metodológicas: relato de experiência / Contribuciones del programa de doctorado sándwich con los abordajes metodológicos: relato de experiencia / Contributions of the sandwich doctoral program to methodological approaches: an experience report

RESUMO Objetivo Compartilhar experiências e insights teóricos e metodológicos que os pesquisadores obtiveram ao trabalhar juntos durante um programa de doutorado sanduíche. Método Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo relato de experiência. Resultados Incorporou-se o pensamento restaurativo no estudo da cultura de segurança do paciente e espera-se implementar o plano de knowledge translation utilizando os princípios do diálogo deliberativo como uma estratégia para aumentar a aplicabilidade dos resultados da pesquisa. Conclusão A incorporação de novas metodologias nas pesquisas da enfermagem brasileira possui um papel fundamental para o alcance de visibilidade e participação internacional nas diferentes áreas de conhecimento da enfermagem.

RESUMEN Objetivo Compartir experiencias e introspecciones teóricas y metodológicas que los investigadores obtuvieron al trabajar juntos durante un programa de doctorado sándwich. Método Estudio descriptivo del tipo relato de experiencia. Resultados Se ha incorporado el pensamiento restaurador en el estudio de la cultura de seguridad del paciente y se espera implementar el plan de traducir conocimientos usando los principios del diálogo deliberativo como una estrategia para aumentar la aplicabilidad de los resultados de la investigación. Conclusión La incorporación de nuevas metodologías en las investigaciones de enfermería brasileña tiene un rol fundamental para el alcance de visibilidad y participación internacional en las diferentes áreas de conocimiento de enfermería.

ABSTRACT Objective To share our experience on theoretical and methodological insights we have gained as researchers working together during the Sandwich Doctoral Program. Method This is a descriptive experience report. Results We have incorporated restoration thinking into a study on patient safety culture and will enhance knowledge translation by applying principles of deliberative dialogue to increase the uptake and implementation of research results. Conclusion Incorporating new approaches in Brazilian nursing research plays a key role in achieving international participation and visibility in different areas of nursing knowledge.

Seniors managing multiple medications: using mixed methods to view the home care safety lens.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety is a national and international priority with medication safety earmarked as both a prevalent and high-risk area of concern. To date, medication safety research has focused overwhelmingly on institutional based care provided by paid healthcare professionals, which often has little applicability to the home care setting. This critical gap in our current understanding of medication safety in the home care sector is particularly evident with the elderly who often manage more than one chronic illness and a complex palette of medications, along with other care needs. This study addresses the medication management issues faced by seniors with chronic illnesses, their family, caregivers, and paid providers within Canadian publicly funded home care programs in Alberta (AB), Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC) and Nova Scotia (NS). METHODS: Informed by a socio-ecological perspective, this study utilized Interpretive Description (ID) methodology and participatory photographic methods to capture and analyze a range of visual and textual data. Three successive phases of data collection and analysis were conducted in a concurrent, iterative fashion in eight urban and/or rural households in each province. A total of 94 participants (i.e., seniors receiving home care services, their family/caregivers, and paid providers) were interviewed individually. In addition, 69 providers took part in focus groups. Analysis was iterative and concurrent with data collection in that each interview was compared with subsequent interviews for converging as well as diverging patterns. RESULTS: Six patterns were identified that provide a rich portrayal of the complexity of medication management safety in home care: vulnerabilities that impact the safe management and storage of medication, sustaining adequate supports, degrees of shared accountability for care, systems of variable effectiveness, poly-literacy required to navigate the system, and systemic challenges to maintaining medication safety in the home. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for policy makers, health system leaders, care providers, researchers, and educators to work with home care clients and caregivers on three key messages for improvement: adapt care delivery models to the home care landscape; develop a palette of user-centered tools to support medication safety in the home; and strengthen health systems integration.

Understanding Perceptions and Practices for Zambian Adults in Western Province at Risk for Hypertension: An Exploratory Descriptive Study.

Hypertension is an important public health issue in Zambia. Despite the need for early detection, treatment, and ongoing monitoring, there is little documented research on hypertension in Zambia. The study aims were to: 1) better understand risk factors for hypertension in urban and rural communities in Mongu and Limulunga Districts, Western Province; 2) identify current health practices for hypertension and prevention in these communities; and 3) explore intersections between culture and hypertension perceptions and practices for study participants. A mixed methods approach was used; 203 adults completed surveys including demographics, anthropometric measures, blood pressure (BP), physicial activity, diet, and salt intake at five health check stations. Two focus groups were conducted with rural and urban community members to better understand their perspectives on hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was 32.8% for survey participants. A further 24.6% had pre-hypertension. The mean total weight of salt added to food was nearly double the WHO recommendation with women adding significantly more salt to food than men. Significant differences in waist circumference were observed between men and women with men at low risk and women at substantialy high risk. In focus groups, participants cited westernized diets, lack of physical activity, stress, psychological factors, and urbanization as causative factors for hypertension. Participants lacked understanding of BP medications, healthy lifestyles, adherence to treatment, and ongoing monitoring. Focus group participants mentioned challenges in obtaining treatment for hypertension and desired to be active contributors in creating solutions. They recommended that government priorize hypertension initiatives that increase access to health education to reduce risk, enhance early detection, and support lifestyle changes and medication adherence. Our findings suggest that policy-makers need to engage communities more effectively to develop successful public health strategies to prevent, detect, and manage hypertension in Western Province, Zambia, particularly in rural areas.

Development and evaluation of a workshop to support evidence-based practice change in long-term care.

To support evidence-based practice changes in long-term care, we used a practice development approach with interactive workshops to engage teams from 10 organizations in participatory change. Data from postworkshop surveys and subsequent semistructured interviews indicated that participants felt empowered to identify a priority challenge and initiate change. Notably, the workshop intervention enhanced collaboration between professional and unregulated staff, fostered the development of shared vision, and provided the impetus to tackle workplace barriers to change.

Engaging nurses to strengthen medication safety: Fostering and capturing change with restorative photographic research methods.

We used participatory photographic research methods adapted from the field of ecological restoration to engage Brazilian intensive care unit nurses in a critical review of medication safety in their work environment. Using focus groups, practitioner-led photo walkabouts with photo narration, and photo elicitation focus groups in iterative phases of data collection and analysis, nurses developed and implemented several practical and cultural improvements for their unit. Participants focussed on organizing the medication room for efficient workflow and accessible supplies, improving reporting practices, and reconsidering how they could manage safety issues in their unit and in the hospital as a whole. Our results demonstrated that restorative photographic research methods enabled participants to (re)think and redesign their work environment in keeping with several recommended practices for improving medication management. It also validated the need for continuous evidence-informed improvements if nurses hope to optimize medication safety in the complex systems of intensive care.

Exploring safety and quality in a hemodialysis environment with participatory photographic methods: a restorative approach.

This study used principles and methods of good ecological restoration, including participatory photographic research methods, to explore perceptions of safety and quality in one hemodialysis unit. Using a list of potential safety and quality issues developed during an initial focus group, a practitioner-led photo walkabout was conducted to obtain photographs of the patient care unit and nurses' stories (photo narration) about safety and quality in their environment. Following a process of iterative coding, photos were used to discuss preliminary themes in a photo elicitation focus group with four additional unit staff The major themes identified related to clutter, infection control, unit design, chemicals and air quality, lack of storage space, and health and safety hazards (including wet floors, tripping hazards from hoses, moving furniture/chairs). The visual methods engaged researchers and unit nurses in rich dialogue about safety in this complex environment and provides an ongoing basis for monitoring and enhancing safety.

Using video-elicitation to assess risks and potential falls reduction strategies in long term care.

PURPOSE: To assess the ability to use and the usefulness of video-elicitation to study risks and potential ways to reduce transfer-related falls in long term care. METHOD: A qualitative research study was conducted in a long term care facility and included a purposeful sample of 16 subjects (6 residents, 6 health care providers, and 4 family members). Field observations, interviews, video-recordings of assisted transfers, and video-elicitation sessions were conducted with the participants. The interviews and video-elicitation sessions were digitally recorded, transcribed and coded independently by at least 2 analysts. The codes were organized under themes. RESULTS: Six themes related to risks and reduction of transfer-related falls were identified - environment, behaviors, health conditions, specific activities, knowledge and awareness, and balancing values. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to implement the novel participatory video-elicitation method developed and it was useful to identify risks and risk reduction strategies. Therefore, video-elicitation may be used in future studies to inform the design and testing of interventions to reduce transfer-related falls among LTC residents. Implications for Rehabilitation Falls are common among long term care residents. Visual-elicitation is a useful tool to be used in rehabilitation to assess risks and possible measures to reduce falls. The video-elicitation sessions optimized the ability and engaged residents, health care providers, and family members on providing information and discussing risks and potential measures to reduce transfer-related falls.

Nursing workload and patient safety--a mixed method study with an ecological restorative approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the potential association between nursing workload and patient safety in the medical and surgical inpatient units of a teaching hospital. METHOD: a mixed method strategy (sequential explanatory design). RESULTS: the initial quantitative stage of the study suggest that increases in the number of patients assigned to each nursing team lead to increased rates of bed-related falls, central line-associated bloodstream infections, nursing staff turnover, and absenteeism. During the subsequent qualitative stage of the research, the nursing team stressed medication administration, bed baths, and patient transport as the aspects of care that have the greatest impact on workload and pose the greatest hazards to patient, provider, and environment safety. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated significant associations between nursing workload and patient safety. We observed that nursing staff with fewer patients presented best results of care-related and management-related patient safety indicators. In addition, the tenets of ecological and restorative thinking contributed to the understanding of some of the aspects in this intricate relationship from the standpoint of nursing providers. They also promoted a participatory approach in this study.

Nursing workload and patient safety - a mixed method study with an ecological restorative approach / Carga de trabalho da equipe de enfermagem e segurança do paciente - estudo com método misto na abordagem ecológica restaurativa / Carga de trabajo de enfermería y seguridad de pacientes - estudio con método mixto y aproximación ecológica restaurativa

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the potential association between nursing workload and patient safety in the medical and surgical inpatient units of a teaching hospital. METHOD: a mixed method strategy (sequential explanatory design). RESULTS: the initial quantitative stage of the study suggest that increases in the number of patients assigned to each nursing team lead to increased rates of bed-related falls, central line-associated bloodstream infections, nursing staff turnover, and absenteeism. During the subsequent qualitative stage of the research, the nursing team stressed medication administration, bed baths, and patient transport as the aspects of care that have the greatest impact on workload and pose the greatest hazards to patient, provider, and environment safety. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated significant associations between nursing workload and patient safety. We observed that nursing staff with fewer patients presented best results of care-related and management-related patient safety indicators. In addition, the tenets of ecological and restorative thinking contributed to the understanding of some of the aspects in this intricate relationship from the standpoint of nursing providers. They also promoted a participatory approach in this study.

OBJETIVO: analisar a carga de trabalho da equipe de enfermagem e sua potencial relação com a segurança do paciente, em unidades de internação das áreas clínica e cirúrgica de um hospital universitário. MÉTODO: adotou-se um método misto de pesquisa com desenho sequencial explanatório. RESULTADOS: a etapa quantitativa inicial do estudo sugere que o aumento do número de pacientes designados para a equipe de enfermagem implica em aumento das taxas de queda do leito, infecções relacionadas ao cateter vascular central, rotatividade de profissionais e absenteísmo. Durante a etapa qualitativa subsequente, a equipe de enfermagem destacou os cuidados relacionados à administração de medicação, banho de leito e transporte de pacientes, como aqueles que mais repercutem na carga de trabalho e mais representam riscos para a segurança do paciente, dos profissionais e do ambiente. CONCLUSÕES: os achados deste estudo evidenciaram associações significativas entre carga de trabalho e a segurança dos pacientes. Observa-se que os quadros de pessoal com menos pacientes apresentaram os melhores indicadores de qualidade assistencial e gerencial de segurança do paciente. Além disso, os princípios do pensamento ecológico e restaurativo contribuíram para a compreensão de alguns dos aspectos envolvidos nessa intricada relação, a partir dos olhares dos próprios profissionais e também promoveram abordagem participativa para o estudo desse tema.

El estudio tuvo por objetivo analizar la carga de trabajo de enfermería y su potencial relación con la seguridad del paciente en unidades de internación de las áreas clínica y quirúrgica de un hospital universitario. Se adoptó un método mixto de investigación con diseño secuencial explicativo. Los resultados de la etapa cuantitativa indican que el aumento del número de pacientes atribuidos al equipo de enfermería implica en elevación de las tasas de caída de cama, infección relacionada a catéter vascular central, turnover y absentismo. En la etapa cualitativa, el equipo de enfermería destacó los cuidados relacionados con la administración de medicación, baño de cama y transporte de pacientes como aquellos que más repercuten en la carga de trabajo y representan riesgos para la seguridad de los pacientes, de los profesionales y del ambiente. Los resultados mostraron asociaciones significativas entre la carga de trabajo y la seguridad del paciente. La mejor dotación de personal mostró mejores resultados para el manejo y para el cuidado del paciente. Los principios del pensamiento ecológico y restaurativo contribuyeron a la comprensión de algunos de los aspectos involucrados en esta intricada relación, a partir de las miradas de los profesionales, con un enfoque participativo.