Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the influence of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses’ empowerment, communication with physicians and just culture on the patient safety nursing practices.
Methods: This study conducted an online s...
Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the influence of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses’ empowerment, communication with physicians and just culture on the patient safety nursing practices.
Methods: This study conducted an online survey from October 10 to November 30, 2024, among 195 PACU nurses working in South Korea. Data were collected through structured questionnaires that included the subjects' general characteristics, empowerment, communication with physician, just culture, and patient safety nursig practice. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.
Results: The patient safety nursing practices had a significant positive correlation with empowerment, communication with physicians and just culture. As a result of the regression analysis, higher levels of just culture (β=.29, p<.001), experience of safety education in the past 1 year (β=.23, p<.001), and greater empowerment (β=.22, p<.001) were significantly associated with higher patient safety nursing practices. The model was statistically significant (F=9.72, p<.001), with an the explanatory power of 29.0%.
Conclusion: This study is significant that the empowerment, just culture, and experience of safety education are key factors influencing patient safety nursing practices of PACU nurses. Based on these findings, specific strategies to enhance patient safety nursing practices in the PACU should include the development of educational programs aimed at improving nurses’ empowerment, patient safety practices, and fostering a just culture.
Key words: Postanesthesia nursing, Patient safety, Empowerment, Communication, Organizational culture