Adverse events in health and nursing care: Patient safety from the standpoint of the professional’s experience

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to acknowledge the significant aspects brought about by nurses regarding their experience of being responsible for the occurrence of health adverse events. This exploratory qualitative study employed a hermeneutic dialectic approach. The sample comprised 10 nurses who had been responsible for the occurrence of an adverse event at least once and four nursing supervisors with oversight responsibility for patients at the time the adverse events occurred. Analysis of the collected data allowed for the construction of analysis categories. Relevant issues regarding the need to empower human resources and strengthen recruitment systems were identified, with emphasis to the lack of personnel, workload, teamwork, and continuing education. Results allow for the visualization of an opportunity to put interventions into practice, aiming at contributing to a safer care system.