THE IMPACT OF WORK UNIT AND ORGANIZATION SUPPORT ON HOSPITAL PATIENT SAFETY

Abstract

Based on the construct of a culture of safety, the study purpose was to discern the relationships between Organization Support (OS) and Work Unit Support (WS) on Hospital Patient Safety. OS and WS were operationalized using the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) RN Survey with Job Satisfaction Scales. Patient Safety was operationalized using four Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicators: Decubitus Ulcer, Selected Infections due to Medical Care, Failure to Rescue (FTR), and Deep Vein Thrombosis. A structural equation model was developed with adequate fit indices (χ2 = 40.811, df= 27, p= 0.234; CFI= 0.930; RMSEA= 0.065; SRMR= 0.074). Unexpectedly, increased OS was associated significantly (p= .030) with increase Patient Safety events. A promising, though non-significant finding, was increased WS and OS were associated with decreased FTR rates. Teamwork, a component of WS was associated with decreased rates of FTR and Patient Safety events.