title: Perception of nurses about patient safety in intensive care units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the perception of nursing professionals in public hospital intensive therapy units regarding patient safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Eighty nursing professionals who developed welfare activities in general intensive care units in Northeastern Brazil participated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, from May to June 2014. The textual content was submitted to the lexicographical textual analysis, and data analysis was based on the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four classes were analyzed: need for change; actions before an adverse event; concepts of safe care; and actions that integrate safe care. It was revealed that patient safety is a consequence of the culture adopted by professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals understand patient safety as a set of strategies that minimize the risk of adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Escola de Saúde. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Theo Duarte da
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Escola de Saúde. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Pétala Tuani Candido de Oliveira
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Escola de Saúde. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Cristiane Filgueira Martins
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Escola de Saúde. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kisna Yasmin Andrade
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Departamento de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francis Solange Vieira
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Tourinho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Departamento de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Viviane Euzébia Pereira
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009729:Nursing; D061214:Patient Safety