title: Assessing RN-to-RN peer review on clinical units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary purpose of this study was to measure informal registered nurse (RN)-to-RN peer review (defined as collegial communication about the quality of nursing care) at the work-unit level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey design with cluster sampling of 28 hospital or ambulatory care units (n = 541 respondents). Results were compared with existing patient safety and satisfaction data. A chi-squared test was used to compare responses against nurse characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses agreed that RN-to-RN peer review takes place on their units, but no correlation with patient safety and satisfaction data was found. Misunderstandings about the meaning of peer review were evident. Open-ended comments revealed barriers to peer review: fear of retribution, language barriers and lack of professionalism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses need clarification of peer review. Issues with common language in a professional environment need to be addressed and nurses can learn collaboration from each other's cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Managers should support RN-to-RN peer review on clinical units. Methods used here may be useful to assess current departmental nurse peer review.
authors.affiliation: Development & Research and Psychiatric Services, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, CA 92103-8929, USA. jpfeiffer@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wickline
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deetz
authors.forename: Elise S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D010380:Peer Review; D011787:Quality of Health Care