Relationship of the Perioperative Nurse Work Environment With a Culture of Safety and High Reliability

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine dimensions of the perioperative work environment and their associations with the operating room (OR) culture of safety and high-reliability characteristics.

Design

A predictive correlational design using a cross-sectional survey was used.

Methods

A convenience sample of perioperative nurses (N = 96) was used to evaluate strength of associations of their work environment with OR safety culture and high-reliability organizational culture. In addition, the best predictive models for OR culture of safety and high-reliability characteristics were used.

Findings

Findings indicated that the five dimensions of the work environment are significant predictors of a safety culture; however, only Collegial Relationships and Nursing Foundations for Quality of Care significantly predict high reliability.

Conclusions

Due to the extraordinary responsibility perioperative nurses hold to maintain safety standards for surgical patients, it is critical to fortify elements of the nurse work environment.