title: Interruptions of nurses' activities and patient safety: an integrative literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to identify characteristics related to the interruption of nurses in professional practice, as well as to assess the implications of interruptions for patient safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  integrative literature review. The following databases were searched: Pubmed/Medline, LILACS, SciELO and Cochrane Library, using the descriptors interruptions and patient safety. An initial date was not established, but the final date was December 31, 2013. A total of 29 papers met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  all the papers included describe interruptions as a harmful factor for patient safety. Data analysis revealed three relevant categories: characteristics of interruptions, implications for patient safety, and interventions to minimize interruptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  interruptions favor the occurrence of errors in the health field. Therefore, there is a need for further studies to understand such a phenomenon and its effects on clinical practice.
authors: Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Cintia
authors: C
authors: Monteiro
authors: Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Ariane Ferreira Machado
authors: AF
authors: Avelar
authors: Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Mavilde da Luz Gonçalves
authors: Mda L
authors: Pedreira
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D061214:Patient Safety; D016526:Workload