title: Hospital nurses' perceptions of human factors contributing to nursing errors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to understand the human factors associated with hospital errors to provide a framework to discuss why errors occur.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Patient safety in hospitals has been a major focus in healthcare for the past 15 years. Errors still occur at an alarming rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 393 hospital-based registered nurses provided perceptions of 24 items relating to human errors in hospitals. Errors were assessed for likelihood, intervenability, importance, and common occurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data revealed 4 themes that explained 55% of the variance in likelihood to cause an error: loss of focus, unhealthy environment, interpersonal deficits, and overwhelmed. Feeling swamped was most important but was not seen as intervenable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Managers must provide a way for nurses to feel empowered to intervene on error situations they believe are most likely, common, and important.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Nurse Practitioner (Dr Roth), Scottsdale John C. Lincoln Health Network, Scottsdale, Arizona; Professor (Dr Wieck); David G. Braithwaite Professor in Nursing, Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Programs (Dr Haas); Assistant Professor (Dr Fountain), College of Nursing, The University of Texas at Tyler.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: K Lynn
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wieck
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fountain
authors.forename: Barbara K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult