Nursing Homes Need to Improve Communication

Transparency Lacking?

Laura M. Wagner, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, assistant professor of nursing at New York University College of Nursing says nursing homes need to improve communications processes and policies to make it easier for nurses to disclose errors.

"Our study, the first to systematically explore nurses' perceptions toward error disclosure to nursing residents and families, underscores the importance that further efforts need to occur for error reporting and disclosure to be less difficult for nurses," she said.

Investigators found that nurses' personal experience and level of education are more likely to influence error disclosure rather than other factors, such as the institutional culture. The NYU investigators conducted the cross-sectional study of 1,180 registered nurses and registered practical nurses using mailed surveys.

Investigators noted that there is increased attention given to the reporting of harmful errors, yet almost one-third of the respondents were less likely to disclose if they believed they might be sued or reprimanded. Respondents said they thought current efforts toward supporting and educating nurses who might report errors were inadequate.

Examples of potential nursing errors included breakdown of documentation errors, misinterpreting a doctor's orders, infection control precautions and inappropriate judgment.

"If nurses do not acknowledge that errors occur and they are a serious problem, then improving patient safety in this setting will be even more difficult."

There has been a rash of stories around a single theme lately - reporting. The Department of Labor chastised the industry for not reporting and encouraging workers not to report injuries in the workplace. OSHA is stepping up inspections. And now this study suggests that open communication and transparency of reporting does not take place. And that endangers staff and residents. That is a toxic mix brewing that will need more than OSHA to address.

But guess what, eventually everything comes to light. It is nearly impossible to contain information with the increased use of social media. And then you have a PR crisis that will hurt both your marketing and your sales.

Now that hurts.

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Thomas Jackson