Changes in nursing practice to improve patient safety. / Mudanças na prática de enfermagem para melhorar a segurança do paciente.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in nursing practice to improve the quality of care and patient safety. METHOD: A case study conducted at an inpatient unit with professionals from the patient safety centre and a nursing team, totalling 31 participants. Data were collected from May to December 2015 through interviews, observations recorded in a field journal, and documentary analysis, followed by content analysis. RESULTS: The changes observed in the nursing practice included the identification of care and physical risks, especially the risk of falls and pressure injury, with the use of personal forms and the Braden scale; notification of adverse events; adoption of protocols; effective communication with permanent education and multiprofessional meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Changes were observed in the nursing practice, chiefly focused on risk management.