Forum emphasizes nurses' leadership role in patient safety

The first Chief Nursing Officers Patient Safety Leadership Forum brought together chief nursing officers and distinguished speakers from the health care industry to define nurses' role in making patient safety a priority, according to a Dec 16, 2004, news release from Cardinal Health, Dublin, Ohio. The meeting, organized by Clarian Health Partners, Indianapolis, and sponsored by Cardinal Health, took place in Indianapolis on Nov 3 and 4, 2004. The meeting's agenda highlighted Institute of Medicine reports on patient safety and ways for nurses to improve safety in their hospitals by implementing practices developed by national organizations, such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; The Leapfrog Group, Washington, DC; the US Food and Drug Administration; and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Discussions identified four key areas in which nurses should take initiative, including technology, patient safety models, nursing leadership, and patient safety research. Specific recommendations for action included

* giving nurses responsibility in the development, purchase, and implementation of patient safety technology;

* partnering with key health care associations to endorse and promote a model that trains nurses to take the lead in identifying trouble spots to prevent mistakes and move patients safety through the health care system;

* developing a process to transform the work environment into a safe culture, and remove unnecessary work from nurses' realm of responsibilities so they can focus on patient safety issues; and

* encouraging state hospital associations to use a percentage of dues to fund patient safety programs.

First Forum for Chief Nursing Officers Emphasizes Leadership Role of Nurses in Patient Safety (news release, San Diego: Cardinal Health, Alaris Products, Dec 16, 2004).

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