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OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between 1-year retention of newly licensed RNs (NLRNs) employed in hospitals and personal and hospital characteristics, and determine which characteristics had the most influence. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data collected in a study of transition to practice was used to describe the retention of 1464 NLRNs employed by 97 hospitals in 3 states. Hospitals varied in size, location (urban and rural), Magnet® designation, and university affiliation. The NLRNs also varied in education, age, race, gender, and experience. RESULTS: The overall retention rate at 1 year was 83%. Retention of NLRNs was higher in urban areas and in Magnet hospitals. The only personal characteristic that affected retention was age, with younger nurses more likely to stay. CONCLUSION: Hospital characteristics had a larger effect on NLRN retention than personal characteristics. Hospitals in rural areas have a particular challenge in retaining NLRNs.
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Satisfacción en el Trabajo , Enfermeras y Enfermeros/estadística & datos numéricos , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Lealtad del Personal , Reorganización del Personal/estadística & datos numéricos , Competencia Clínica , Humanos , Licencia en Enfermería , Retención en Psicología , Población Rural , Estados Unidos , Población Urbana , Lugar de TrabajoRESUMEN
High patient turnover is a critical factor increasing nursing workload. Despite the growing number of studies on patient turnover, no consensus about how to measure turnover has been achieved. This study was designed to assess the correlation among patient turnover measures commonly used in recent studies and to examine the degree of agreement among the measures for classifying units with different levels of patient turnover. Using unit-level data collected for this study from 292 units in 88 hospitals participating in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators®, we compared four patient turnover measures: the inverse of length of stay (1/LOS), admissions, discharges, and transfers per daily census (ADTC), ADTC with short-stay adjustment, and the number of ADTs and short-stay patients divided by the total number of treated patients, or Unit Activity Index (UAI). We assessed the measures' agreement on turnover quartile classifications, using percent agreement and Cohen's kappa statistic (weighted and unweighted). Pearson correlation coefficients also were calculated. ADTC with or without adjustment for short-stay patients had high correlations and substantial agreement with the measure of 1/LOS (κ = .62 to .91; r = .90 to .95). The UAI measure required data less commonly collected by participating hospital units and showed only moderate correlations and fair agreement with the other measures (κ = .23 to .39; r = .41 to .45). The UAI may not be comparable and interchangeable with other patient turnover measures when data are obtained from multiple units and hospitals. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Tiempo de Internación/estadística & datos numéricos , Admisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Alta del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Transferencia de Pacientes/estadística & datos numéricos , Unidades Hospitalarias , Humanos , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/organización & administración , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Carga de Trabajo/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe newly licensed RN (NLRN) preceptorships and the effects on competency and retention. BACKGROUND: Preceptors are widely used, but little is known about the benefit from the perspective of the NLRN or about the models of the relationships. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing added questions about the preceptor experience in a study of transition-to-practice programs. METHODS: Hospitals were coded as having high or low preceptor support in regard to scheduling NLRN on the same shifts as their preceptors, assignment sharing, and preceptor release time and a low number of preceptors per preceptee. RESULTS: Half of the 82 hospitals were classified as high, and half as low preceptor support. NLRNs and their preceptors in high-support hospitals evaluated the preceptor experience and NLRN competence higher. In addition, NLRN retention was higher in the high-support hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: To improve NLRN competence and retention, preceptors should have adequate time with each NLRN, share shift and patient assignments, and have few preceptees assigned to each preceptor concurrently.
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Competencia Clínica/normas , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/educación , Preceptoría/organización & administración , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Illinois , Capacitación en Servicio/métodos , Capacitación en Servicio/organización & administración , Capacitación en Servicio/normas , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Estudios Multicéntricos como Asunto , North Carolina , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/organización & administración , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/normas , Ohio , Reorganización del Personal , Preceptoría/métodos , Preceptoría/normas , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como AsuntoRESUMEN
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the association between horizontal violence and job satisfaction in hospital staff registered nurses and the degree to which peer relationships mediates the relationship. Additionally, the association between nurse and work characteristics and job satisfaction were determined. BACKGROUND: Horizontal violence is a major predictor of nurses' job satisfaction. Yet, not enough is known about the relationship between these variables. Job satisfaction is an important variable to study because it is a predictor of patient care quality and safety internationally. Peer relationships, a job satisfier for nurses, was identified as a potential mediator in the association between horizontal violence and job satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mediational model testing. METHODS: An anonymous four-part survey of a random sample of 175 hospital staff registered nurses working in California provided the data. Data about horizontal violence, peer relationships, job satisfaction, and nurse and work characteristics were collected between March-August 2010. RESULTS: A statistically significant negative relationship was found between horizontal violence and peer relationships, job satisfaction and a statistically significant positive relationship was found between peer relationships and job satisfaction. Peer relationships mediated the association between horizontal violence and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was reported as higher by nurses who worked in teaching hospitals. There were no statistically significant differences in job satisfaction based on gender, ethnicity, basic registered nurse education, highest degree held, size of hospital or clinical area. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that peer relationships can attenuate the negative relationship between horizontal violence and job satisfaction. This adds to the extant literature on the relationship between horizontal violence and job satisfaction. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings highlight peer relationships as an important factor when considering effective interventions that foster hospital staff registered nurses' job satisfaction in the presence of horizontal violence.
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Satisfacción en el Trabajo , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital , Violencia Laboral/prevención & control , California , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Hospitales de Enseñanza , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Modelos de Enfermería , Negociación , Grupo Paritario , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Investigators have used a variety of operational definitions of nursing hours of care in measuring nurse staffing for health services research. However, little is known about which approach is best for nurse staffing measurement. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether various nursing hours measures yield different model estimations when predicting patient outcomes and to determine the best method to measure nurse staffing based on the model estimations. DATA SOURCES/SETTING: We analyzed data from the University HealthSystem Consortium for 2005. The sample comprised 208 hospital-quarter observations from 54 hospitals, representing information on 971 adult-care units and about 1 million inpatient discharges. METHODS: We compared regression models using different combinations of staffing measures based on productive/nonproductive and direct-care/indirect-care hours. Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion were used in the assessment of staffing measure performance. RESULTS: The models that included the staffing measure calculated from productive hours by direct-care providers were best, in general. However, the Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion differences between models were small, indicating that distinguishing nonproductive and indirect-care hours from productive direct-care hours does not substantially affect the approximation of the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to explicitly evaluate various measures of nurse staffing. Productive hours by direct-care providers are the strongest measure related to patient outcomes and thus should be preferred in research on nurse staffing and patient outcomes.
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Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/organización & administración , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Admisión y Programación de Personal/organización & administración , Admisión y Programación de Personal/estadística & datos numéricos , Teorema de Bayes , Investigación sobre Servicios de Salud , Administración Hospitalaria , Humanos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Análisis de RegresiónRESUMEN
Effective handoff communication is critical for patient safety. Research is needed to understand how information processes occurring intra-shift impact handoff effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine medical-surgical nurses' (n = 21) perspectives about processes that promote and hinder patient safety intra-shift and during handoff. Results indicated that offgoing nurses' ability to grasp the story intra-shift was essential to convey the full picture during handoff. When oncoming nurses understood the picture being conveyed at the handoff, nurses jointly painted a full picture. Arriving and leaving the handoff with this level of information promoted patient safety. However, intra-shift disruptions often impeded nurses in their processes to grasp the story thus posing risks to patient safety. Improvement efforts need to target the different processes involved in grasping the story and painting a full picture. Future research needs to examine handoff practices and outcomes on units with good and poor practice environments.
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Continuidad de la Atención al Paciente/normas , Enfermeras y Enfermeros/normas , Pase de Guardia/normas , Adulto , Anciano , Comunicación , Teoría Fundamentada , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Seguridad del Paciente/normas , PercepciónRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Boarding, especially among psychiatric patients, has been characterized as a significant cause of ED crowding, but no quantitative analysis has described boarding nationally. This study determines the incidence, duration, and factors associated with ED boarding in the United States. METHODS: 2008 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey ED data were stratified by visit type (psychiatric vs. non-psychiatric), boarding status, and patient and hospital characteristics. Boarding was defined as a visit with an ED length of stay >6 hours, and boarding time as ED length of stay minus 6 hours. Pearson's chi-square tests describe hospital and patient characteristics stratified by boarding status. Multilevel multivariable logistic and linear regressions determine associations with boarding and boarding time. RESULTS: While 11% of all ED patients boarded, 21.5% of all psychiatric ED patients boarded. Boarding was also more prolonged for psychiatric ED patients. Controlling for confounders, odds of boarding for psychiatric patients were 4.78 (2.63-8.66) times higher than non-psychiatric, and psychiatric patients boarded 2.78 (1.91-3.64) hours longer than non-psychiatric. DISCUSSION: US EDs experienced high proportions and durations of boarding with psychiatric patients disproportionately affected. Additional research concerning mental health care services and legislation may be required to address ED psychiatric patient boarding.
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Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Tiempo de Internación , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Admisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Aglomeración , Servicios Médicos de Urgencia/organización & administración , Femenino , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Trastornos Mentales/diagnóstico , Trastornos Mentales/epidemiología , Enfermos Mentales/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Evaluación de Necesidades , Medición de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Estados Unidos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To test hypotheses from a horizontal violence and quality and safety of patient care model: horizontal violence (negative behavior among peers) is inversely related to peer relations, quality of care and it is positively related to errors and adverse events. Additionally, the association between horizontal violence, peer relations, quality of care, errors and adverse events, and nurse and work characteristics were determined. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample (n= 175) of hospital staff Registered Nurses working in California. METHODS: Nurses participated via survey. Bivariate and multivariate analyses tested the study hypotheses. RESULTS: Hypotheses were supported. Horizontal violence was inversely related to peer relations and quality of care, and positively related to errors and adverse events. Including peer relations in the analyses altered the relationship between horizontal violence and quality of care but not between horizontal violence, errors and adverse events. Nurse and hospital characteristics were not related to other variables. Clinical area contributed significantly in predicting the quality of care, errors and adverse events but not peer relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Horizontal violence affects peer relationships and the quality and safety of patient care as perceived by participating nurses. Supportive peer relationships are important to mitigate the impact of horizontal violence on quality of care.
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Relaciones Interpersonales , Errores Médicos , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/psicología , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Violencia Laboral , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Seguridad del Paciente , Grupo Paritario , PercepciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Various institution-specific guidelines have been developed to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, the availability of guidelines does not ensure adherence to recommended strategies. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence adherence to guidelines for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, with a focus on oral hygiene, head-of-bed elevation, and spontaneous breathing trials. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of critical care nurses at 8 hospitals in Northern California was conducted. A survey was created to gather information on possible facilitators of and barriers to adherence to institution-specific guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. User factors, guideline qualities, and contextual factors were explored and tested for possible relationships. RESULTS: A total of 576 critical care nurses participated in the survey. Each hospital had unique guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. In general, nurses had positive attitudes and reported adhering to the guidelines always or most of the time. Factors associated with adherence differed according to the intervention implemented. The score on the user attitude scale was the strongest and most consistent predictor of adherence across interventions (odds ratio, 3.49-4.75). Time availability (odds ratio, 1.54) and the level of prioritization (odds ratio, 1.86) were also significant predictors. CONCLUSION: The most consistent facilitator of adherence to guidelines for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia was nurses' positive attitude toward the guidelines.
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Actitud del Personal de Salud , Cuidados Críticos/normas , Adhesión a Directriz , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Neumonía Asociada al Ventilador/enfermería , Neumonía Asociada al Ventilador/prevención & control , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Adulto , California , Estudios Transversales , Medicina Basada en la Evidencia/normas , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between patient harm due to health-care errors and the stresses on the hospital systems that occur because of the patients in need of care. METHODS: Two California hospitals each provided 1 year of data to study the relationship between patient harm and Hospital Systems Load. This observational study used 2 metrics, Hospital Systems Load and patient harm. Hospital Systems Load was a composite measure consisting of the areas in the hospital most sensitive to intensity of service developed using factor analysis and clinical judgment to select the components. Patient harm was assessed using a weighted measure of all hospital incidents occurring during a single day and another controlling for census. Analyses were performed separately for each hospital, and each was broken up into weekdays and weekends. These 8 conditions were compared using a Pearson's r and a trend analysis. RESULTS: Patient harm trended upward as the Hospital Systems Load increased. Six of the 8 analyses were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this analysis are highly suggestive of a relationship between Hospital Systems Load and patient harm.
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Errores Médicos/estadística & datos numéricos , Daño del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Carga de Trabajo , California , Atención a la Salud , Análisis Factorial , Investigación sobre Servicios de Salud , Administración Hospitalaria , Hospitales/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Errores Médicos/efectos adversos , Seguridad del PacienteRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND: Based on structure-process-outcome approach, this study examined the association of registered nurse (RN) staffing hours and five quality indicators, including two process measures (catheter use and antipsychotic drug use) and three outcome measures (pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and weight loss). SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: We used data on resident assessments, RN staffing, organizational characteristics, and market factors to examine the quality of 195 nursing homes operating in a rural state of United States - Colorado. DESIGN/METHODS: Two-stage least squares regression models were performed to address the endogenous relationships between RN staffing and the outcome-related quality indicators, and ordinary least squares regression was used for the process-related ones. This analysis focused on the relationship of RN staffing to nursing home quality indicators, controlling for organizational characteristics, resources, resident casemix, and market factors with clustering to control for geographical differences. RESULTS: Higher RN hours were associated with fewer pressure ulcers, but RN hours were not related to the other quality indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The study finding shows the importance of understanding the role of 'nurse staffing' under nursing home care, as well as the significance of associated/contextual factors with nursing home quality even in a small rural state.
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Modelos Organizacionales , Casas de Salud/organización & administración , Admisión y Programación de Personal , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Antipsicóticos/uso terapéutico , Colorado , Estudios Transversales , Casas de Salud/normas , Úlcera por Presión/prevención & control , Catéteres Urinarios/estadística & datos numéricos , Infecciones Urinarias/prevención & control , Pérdida de PesoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of registered nurse (RN) education by determining whether nurse-sensitive patient outcomes were better in hospitals with a higher proportion of RNs with baccalaureate degrees. BACKGROUND: The Future of Nursing report recommends increasing the percentage of RNs with baccalaureate degrees from 50% to 80% by 2020. Research has linked RN education levels to hospital mortality rates but not with other nurse-sensitive outcomes. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that, with the use of data from 21 University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals, analyzed the association between RN education and patient outcomes (risk-adjusted patient safety and quality of care indicators), controlling for nurse staffing and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Hospitals with a higher percentage of RNs with baccalaureate or higher degrees had lower congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, failure to rescue, and postoperative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and shorter length of stay. CONCLUSION: The recommendation of the Future of Nursing report to increase RN education levels is supported by these findings.
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Bachillerato en Enfermería/normas , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/educación , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/normas , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Estudios Transversales , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/mortalidad , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/enfermería , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación , Investigación en Administración de Enfermería , Úlcera por Presión/mortalidad , Úlcera por Presión/enfermería , Embolia Pulmonar/mortalidad , Embolia Pulmonar/enfermería , Trombosis de la Vena/mortalidad , Trombosis de la Vena/enfermeríaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Patient safety climate (PSC) is an important work environment factor determining patient safety and quality of care in healthcare organizations. Few studies have investigated the relationship between PSC and patient outcomes, considering possible confounding effects of other nurse-related organizational factors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between PSC and patient outcomes in Swiss acute care hospitals, adjusting for major organizational variables. METHODS: This is a sub-study of the Swiss arm of the multicenter-cross sectional RN4CAST (Nurse Forecasting: Human Resources Planning in Nursing) study. We utilized data from 1630 registered nurses (RNs) working in 132 surgical, medical and mixed surgical-medical units within 35 Swiss acute care hospitals. PSC was measured with the 9-item Safety Organizing Scale. Other organizational variables measured with established instruments included the quality of the nurse practice environment, implicit rationing of nursing care, nurse staffing, and skill mix levels. We performed multilevel multivariate logistic regression to explore relationships between seven patient outcomes (nurse-reported medication errors, pressure ulcers, patient falls, urinary tract infection, bloodstream infection, pneumonia; and patient satisfaction) and PSC. RESULTS: In none of our regression models was PSC a significant predictor for any of the seven patient outcomes. From our nurse-related organizational variables, the most robust predictor was implicit rationing of nursing care. After controlling for major organizational variables and hierarchical data structure, higher levels of implicit rationing of nursing care resulted in significant decrease in the odds of patient satisfaction (OR=0.276, 95%CI=0.113-0.675) and significant increase in the odds of nurse reported medication errors (OR=2.513, 95%CI=1.118-5.653), bloodstream infections (OR=3.011, 95%CI=1.429-6.347), and pneumonia (OR=2.672, 95%CI=1.117-6.395). CONCLUSIONS: We failed to confirm our hypotheses that PSC is related to improved patient outcomes, which we need to re-test with more reliable outcome measures, such as 30-day patient mortality. Based on our findings, general medical/surgical units should monitor the rationing of nursing care levels which may help to detect imbalances in the "work system", such as inadequate nurse staffing or skill mix levels to meet patients' needs.
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Personal de Enfermería en Hospital , Seguridad del Paciente , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , SuizaRESUMEN
Horizontal violence among nurses is recognized as a major problem in hospitals; however, the origins and effects on patient care have not been studied. This study described the incidence of horizontal violence among hospital staff RNs and tested 2 hypotheses about the social origins of this behavior. A random sample of 175 hospital staff RNs drawn from the California Board of Registered Nursing's mailing list was surveyed. Horizontal violence was reported by 21.1% (n = 37) of participating nurses. Hypotheses were supported. Findings suggested (a) a positive relationship between beliefs consistent with an oppressed self and horizontal violence (r = .434, P < .05) and (b) a positive relationship between beliefs consistent with those of an oppressed group and horizontal violence (r = .453, P < .05). A change in the oppressive social structure of hospitals may be needed to truly address horizontal violence in the best interest of the quality and safety of patient care.
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Acoso Escolar/psicología , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/psicología , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Violencia/psicología , Violencia/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Femenino , Procesos de Grupo , Humanos , Incidencia , Relaciones Interprofesionales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/organización & administración , Cultura OrganizacionalRESUMEN
For many years, nurses in international clinical and academic settings have voiced concern about horizontal violence among nurses and its consequences. However, no known framework exists to guide research on the topic to explain these consequences. This paper presents a conceptual model that was developed from four theories to illustrate how the quality and safety of patient care could be affected by horizontal violence. Research is needed to validate the new model and to gather empirical evidence of the consequences of horizontal violence on which to base recommendations for future research, education, and practice.
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High patient turnover (patient throughput generated by admissions, discharges, and transfers) contributes to increased demands and resources for care. We examined how the relationship between registered nurse (RN) staffing and failure-to-rescue (FTR) varied with patient turnover levels by analyzing quarterly data from the University HealthSystem Consortium. The data included 42 hospitals, representing 759 nursing units and about 1 million inpatients. Higher RN staffing was associated with lower FTR. When patient turnover increased from 48.6% to 60.7% on nonintensive units (non-ICUs), the beneficial effect of non-ICU RN staffing on FTR was reduced by 11.5%. RN staffing should be adjusted according to patient turnover because turnover increases patient care demand beyond that presented by patient count, and outcomes may be adversely affected.
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Tiempo de Internación/estadística & datos numéricos , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/provisión & distribución , Pacientes/estadística & datos numéricos , Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados/estadística & datos numéricos , Hospitales/normas , Hospitales/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos/normas , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos/estadística & datos numéricos , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Admisión y Programación de Personal/estadística & datos numéricos , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Improving communication between caregivers is an important approach to improving safety. OBJECTIVE: To implement teamwork and communication interventions and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes. DESIGN: A prospective, interrupted time series of a three-phase INTERVENTION: a run-in period (phase 1), during which a training programme was given to providers and staff on each unit; phase 2, which focused on unit-based safety teams to identify and address care problems using skills from phase 1; and phase 3, which focused on engaging patients in communication efforts. SETTING: General medical inpatient units at three northern California hospitals. PATIENTS: Administrative data were collected from all adults admitted to the target units, and a convenience sample of patients interviewed during and after hospitalisation. MEASUREMENTS: Readmission, length of stay and patient reports of teamwork, problems with care, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: 10â977 patients were admitted; 581 patients (5.3% of total sample) were interviewed in hospital, and 313 (2.9% overall, 53.8% of interviewed patients) completed 1-month surveys. No phase of the study was associated with adjusted differences in readmission or length of stay. The phase 2 intervention appeared to be associated with improvement in reports of whether physicians treated them with respect, whether nurses treated them with respect or understood their needs (p<0.05 for all). Interestingly, patients were more likely to perceive that an error took place with their care and agreed less that their caregivers worked well together as a team. No phase had a consistent impact on patient reports of care processes or overall satisfaction. Limitations The study lacks direct measures of patient safety. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to simultaneously improve caregivers' ability to troubleshoot care and enhance communication may improve patients' perception of team functions, but may also increase patients' perception of safety gaps.