Patient Safety Competency in Emergency Nurses in Educational-Medical Centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2020

Patient safety is one of the main components of service quality in the health system. Assessing the competence of nurses is crucial to ensure the safety of care, identify areas in need of promotion, and determine the educational needs of nurses. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the competence of emergency nurses in the field of patient safety in educational-medical centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 1398.

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The statistical population included 183 nurses working in the emergency department of educational and medical centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 1398. There were 199 nurses working in the emergency departments of these hospitals, all of whom were enrolled in the study by census method. Finally, 183 nurses expressed their written consent to participate in the study. A demographic questionnaire and translated Patient Safety Competency Self-evaluation (PSCSE) Questionnaire were used to collect data. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis by SPSS software v. 16 were used to analyze the data.

The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the patient’s safety competency score in nurses was 139.35 17 17.83. Mean knowledge scores were 18.04 35 3.35, the attitude was 51.33 6 6.20, and skill was 69.96 11 11.08. Emergency nurses’ knowledge was relatively high, and the skills, attitude, and general safety competence of patients in emergency nurses were relatively good.

Based on the present study’s findings, emergency nurses’ patient safety competence was relatively high and desirable. Considering the importance of patient safety in the hospital and the role of nurses in safe and quality care of patients, especially in the emergency room, it is recommended that nurses’ competence in patient safety be assessed periodically, and following the evaluation and training needs results. The hospital nursing officials and managers should take appropriate measures to develop the nurses’ profession.