How adverse event reporting in the slovak republic is influenced by nurse characteristics and working arrangements: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the adverse events reporting practices of nurses in Slovakia. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture between December 2017 and July 2018. Registered nurses (n = 1073) from both public and private hospitals across the Slovak Republic were included in the sample. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inductive statistics using SPSS 25.0. Results: A relationship was established between nurse-reported patient safety levels and different unit types, along with nurse overtime levels. A significant relationship was confirmed between the number of events reported by a nurse and nurse education levels, length of clinical practice, hospital size, and both hospital and unit type. Likewise, a significant relationship was verified between the reporting of near-misses and the hospital type, the hospital size and overtime hours. Conclusions: Nurses have a responsibility to advance patient safety, and this includes adverse event and near-miss reporting. Particular nurse and organizational factors have been identified which enhance reporting patterns and patient safety. Consideration of these factors when planning the nurse workforce can affect overall patient safety.