title: Organizational, Cultural, and Psychological Determinants of Smart Infusion Pump Work Arounds: A Study of 3 U.S. Health Systems.
abstract: We investigated nurse perceptions of smart infusion medication pumps to provide evidence-based insights on how to help reduce work around and improve compliance with patient safety policies. Specifically, we investigated the following 3 research questions: (1) What are nurses' current attitudes about smart infusion pumps? (2) What do nurses think are the causes of smart infusion pump work arounds? and (3) To whom do nurses turn for smart infusion pump training and troubleshooting?
  
  
  
  We surveyed a large number of nurses (N = 818) in 3 U.S.-based health care systems to address the research questions above. We assessed nurses' opinions about smart infusion pumps, organizational perceptions, and the reasons for work arounds using a voluntary and anonymous Web-based survey. Using qualitative research methods, we coded open-ended responses to questions about the reasons for work arounds to organize responses into useful categories.
  
  
  
  The nurses reported widespread satisfaction with smart infusion pumps. However, they reported numerous organizational, cultural, and psychological causes of smart pump work arounds. Of 1029 open-ended responses to the question "why do smart pump work arounds occur?" approximately 44% of the causes were technology related, 47% were organization related, and 9% were related to individual factors. Finally, an overwhelming majority of nurses reported seeking solutions to smart pump problems from coworkers and being trained primarily on the job.
  
  
  
  Hospitals may significantly improve adherence to smart pump safety features by addressing the nontechnical causes of work arounds and by providing more leadership and formalized training for resolving smart pump-related problems.
authors.affiliation: From the *Krannert School of Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; †University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa; ‡University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin; and §Wishard Health Services/Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Benjamin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perrigino
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Beverly J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Vermace
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Walroth
authors.forename: Natalie R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Buening
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Skillman
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berndt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006308:Health Systems Plans / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D015279:Organizational Culture; D014481:United States