Addressing the nursing work environment to promote patient safety.
OBJECTIVE
The nursing work environment has a critical impact on patient safety. Yet confusion on the specific roles and competencies of nurses, staff ratio issues, and lack of nurse empowerment create weaknesses that result in safety risks.


OBJECTIVE
These interrelated issues must be addressed systemically to impact the nursing care system.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational reform focusing upon standardized, higher level nursing education using a military model, appropriate staff ratio laws derived from the outcomes literature, and recurrent training incorporating policy-making powers can result in nurse empowerment and improved patient safety.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving the nursing environment requires a broad approach to benefit patient safety. By treating the work environment as a complex system, approaches can result in greater nurse professionalism, empowerment, and patient safety.
Lin
Laura
L
Institute of Health Law Studies, California Western School of Law, California, USA.
Liang
Bryan A
BA
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration; D013597:Systems Analysis; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology